Terms of Reference

Management Procedures Update and Catch Advice for 2023/24-2026/27 Fishing Seasons for Outside Yelloweye Rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) in the Pacific Region

Regional Peer Review - Pacific Region

June 15, 2023
Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Dana Haggarty

Context

Canadian fish stocks that have been assessed as being below the limit reference point (LRP) require a rebuilding plan to rebuild the stock out of the Critical Zone (DFO 2014, 2022a) A rebuilding plan for Outside Yelloweye Rockfish (OYE, Sebastes ruberrimus) was implemented in 2016 after the stock was assessed in 2015 as being below the LRP of 0.4*B_MSY using a surplus production model (Yamanaka et al. 2018). A subsequent evaluation of the rebuilding plan by Cox et. al. (2020) using an age-structured model estimated the stock to be above the LRP of 0.4*B_MSY with high certainty. Stock status was estimated to be 1.24*B_MSY (P(B2018 > LRP) = 100%). An Upper Stock Reference (USR) and Target Reference Point (TRP) were not identified at that time.

Cox et. al. (2020) developed a closed-loop simulation framework to evaluate the rebuilding plan for the OYE stock. This analysis focused on achieving rebuilding objectives related to the LRP. In 2022, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) hosted a series of technical working group (TWG) meetings with representatives from DFO Science, DFO Fisheries Management, DFO Species At Risk, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), Pacific Halibut Management Association, and Landmark Fisheries Research. In those meetings, participants reviewed the range of policies applying to OYE populations and fisheries and explored candidate reference points and management objectives for use in analyses informing near-term decisions. Additional objectives related to target levels will require broader consultation with First Nations, stakeholders, and other interested parties.

DFO Fisheries Management has requested that Science Branch provide new management procedures that include analysis of trade-offs between catch and alternative Target Reference Points, recommend a candidate rebuilding target, and estimate the current stock status relative to the candidate rebuilding target. This Science Response will extend the previous analysis of Cox et al. (2020) to evaluate the performance of management procedures relative to conservation, target and fishery catch objectives in the context of reference points (LRP, candidate USR and TRP). The assessment and advice arising from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) process will be used to support consultations with Indigenous groups and stakeholders in the determination of a TRP, USR, rebuilding target, and fishery and conservation objectives.

Objectives

The specific objectives of this review are to:

1. Using the Guidelines for Implementing the Fish Stocks Provisions in the Fisheries Act and based on TWG input, identify candidate upper stock reference and target reference points (USR, TRP).

2. Based on TWG input, propose candidate management objectives for North and South OYE stocks with respect to the candidate reference points.
3. Characterize the status of the North and South OYE stocks and the coast-wide population relative to candidate reference points using the weighted average of operating models developed by Cox et. al. (2020).
4. Define management procedures to be evaluated using the closed-loop simulation framework developed for OYE (Cox et al. 2020), that specify the time frame over which MP results could apply (annual or multi-year).
5. Apply the closed-loop simulation framework from Cox et. al. (2020) to evaluate the performance of management procedures across the weighted average of operating models against candidate management objectives for each stock. Provide tabular summaries of performance statistics related to each objective to allow trade-offs associated with management procedure (MP) and candidate TRP choices of 1.0*B_MSY and 1.2*B_MSY to be evaluated.
6. Provide new projection distribution plots for depletion and catch for the new management procedures for candidate TRPs of 1.0*B_MSY and 1.2*B_MSY and under a “no fishing” scenario.
7. Propose a rebuilding target with exit criteria for rebuilding plans consistent with the Fish Stocks Provisions (FSP) in the Fisheries Act (DFO 2022a, 2022b).
8. Propose a timeline for updating operating models and re-evaluating management procedures (MPs).
9. Prepare a summary record of evidence to describe how the management framework for OYE stocks complies with the Fish Stocks Provisions (FSP) in the Fisheries Act (DFO 2022a, 2022b) and the Precautionary Approach (PA) Policy (DFO 2009).

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Fisheries Management)
• Interface Fisheries Consulting Ltd.
• Landmark Fisheries Research
• Pacific Halibut Management Association of BC

References

• Cox, S.P., Doherty, B., Benson, A.J., Johnson, S.D.N., and Haggarty, D.R. 2020. Evaluation of potential rebuilding strategies for Outside Yelloweye Rockfish in British Columbia. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2020/069. viii + 135 p.
• DFO. 2009. A fishery decision-making framework incorporating the Precautionary Approach.

• DFO. 2014. A science-based framework for assessing the response of fisheries productivity to state of species or habitat. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/067.

  DFO. 2022a. Guidelines for Writing Rebuilding Plans per the Fish Stocks provisions and A Fishery Decision-making Framework Incorporating the Precautionary Approach Policy. Last modified 2022-06-07.

  DFO. 2022b. Guidelines for Implementing the Fish Stocks Provisions in the Fisheries Act.

  Yamanaka, K.L., McAllister, M.M., Etienne, M., Edwards, A.M., and Haigh, R. 2018. Stock Assessment for the Outside Population of Yelloweye Rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) for British Columbia, Canada in 2014. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2018/001. ix + 150 p.