Terms of Reference

Update of Stock Status Indicators for capelin in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO 4RST) in 2022

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

April 12, 2023
Mont-Joli, QC

Chairperson: Charley Cyr

Context

The stock assessment of capelin (Mallotus spp.) in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Divisions 4RST) is carried out every two years and the last assessment took place in April 2022. During this assessment, the available evidence (low approximations of fishing mortality and the composite index around the long-term average) indicated that any of the harvest levels attained over the last decade were unlikely to pose a risk to the 4RST capelin stock in 2022. However, the recommendation of a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the 2023 fishing season was not possible due to lack of information at the time of the assessment. The next full assessment is scheduled for winter 2024. The Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Branch has requested an update of stock indicators to determine 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 stock indicators for capelin in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST), namely:
  • The commercial fishery landings
  • The condition index of males and females fished in divisions 4R, 4S and 4T
  • The relative abundance indices in the northern and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence
  • The approximation of fishing mortality rate o The composite index of stock status
• 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): Ecosystems and Oceans Science, and Ecosystems and Fisheries Management

References

• DFO. 2022. Assessment of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Divisions 4RST) Capelin Stock. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis Rep. 2022/023.