Terms of Reference

Assessment of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Atlantic Halibut stock

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

March 6-7, 2023
Mont-Joli, Quebec

Chairperson: Stéphane Plourde

Context

Objectives

Provide scientific advice on the status of the Atlantic halibut stock in NAFO Divisions 4RST. This advice shall include:

• A description of the biology of Atlantic halibut and its distribution;
• An oceanographic and environmental overview for the stock area. If possible, this information should be integrated into the advice;
• An assessment of the resource status of Atlantic halibut in 4RST, including abundance, recruitment, exploitation rate, and biological characteristics based on:
• Analysis of the commercial fishing data including landing statistics, logbooks and commercial at-sea and dockside sampling program;
• Analysis of data from the DFO annual research trawl survey and sentinel fisheries;
• Analysis of data from the longline survey and tagging project carried out in collaboration with industry;
• Fitting a stock assessment model to these data.
• Identification of a Limit Reference Point for this stock, and a report on stock status relative to the LRP.
• Determination of a process to provide advice in the form of an update during the interim years between full assessments, and the identification of indicators that may trigger a full stock assessment in place of an update;
• Evaluation of the impact of maintaining and changing current harvest levels;
• Identification of major sources of uncertainty in the assessment
• Identification of research priorities based on the assessment needs.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research Document
• Proceedings

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Fishing industry
• Provincial Government representatives
• Indigenous Organizations
• External experts