Terms of Reference

Update of Stock Status Indicators for Quebec North Shore (Division 4S) Herring in 2022

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

February 27, 2023
Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Charley Cyr

Context

The stock assessment for herring (Clupea harengus) in the Quebec North Shore (Division 4S) is carried out every 2 years and the last assessment occurred in February 2021. The full assessment of these stocks, originally scheduled for March 2023, was cancelled to allow the review of the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RS) herring stocks assessment framework in April 2023 (review of available data). The next full assessment is scheduled for March 2025. The Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Branch has requested an update of stock indicators to , whether any changes have occurred in the status of the resource that would require adjustments to the management plan based on the adopted conservation approach.

Objectives

The meeting objectives are:

• To update the Quebec North Shore (4S) herring stocks indicators in 2022, namely:
  • the commercial fishery landings
  • the age composition of commercial catches
  • the results of the 4Sw unit area acoustic surveys in 2021 and 2022.
  • the cumulative stock productivity index
• Perspectives and/or recommendations on harvest levels for the 2023 fishing seasons based on available data.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Resources management sectors)

References

• DFO. 2021. Assessment of the Quebec North Shore (Division 4S) herring stocks in 2020. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2021/037.