Terms of Reference

Identification of a Limit Reference Point and Proposal of an Upper Stock Reference Point for the Canadian Fisheries Management of Eastern Georges Bank (5Zjm) Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

May 2-3, 2023
St. Andrews, NB

Chairperson: Tara McIntyre

Context

The Government of Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the United States (US) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have assessed Haddock on the eastern portion of Georges Bank (EGB; unit areas 5Zj and 5Zm) jointly under the Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee (TRAC) peer review process since 1998. Explicit biomass reference points for EGB Haddock have not been developed by TRAC or requested by the Transboundary Management Guidance Committee (TMGC). However, for DFO’s domestic fishery management, biomass reference points are required to implement DFO’s fishery decision making framework incorporating the precautionary approach (PA framework; DFO 2009). The PA framework applies to key harvested stocks managed by DFO, including the EGB Haddock stock. One component of the PA framework is to define reference points while taking into account uncertainty and risk. A new assessment framework for EGB Haddock was developed and peer-reviewed at the Canada/US Haddock Research Track assessment meeting in March 2022 and subsequently used to support the provision of advice to the TMGC at the July 2022 TRAC meeting (TRAC 2022). Accordingly, biomass reference points need to be identified using the new assessment model to support DFO’s domestic fishery management requirements.

Objectives

The specific objectives of this meeting are:

• Evaluate the suitability of candidate LRPs and identify the most appropriate LRP to meet the objectives of the PA framework for EGB Haddock
• Propose suitable upper stock reference points (USRs) for EGB Haddock, and provide science advice to DFO Fisheries Management on the most appropriate option to meet the objectives of the PA Framework

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fisheries Management
• Provincial government representatives
• Indigenous communities/organizations
• Fishing Industry
• Non-government organizations

References

• DFO. 2009. A fishery decision-making framework incorporating the precautionary approach. Accessed April 4, 2023. TRAC. 2022. Eastern Georges Bank Haddock. TRAC Status Report 2022/03.