Terms of Reference

3Ps Atlantic Cod Assessment

Regional Peer Review - Newfoundland and Labrador Region

November 6-10, 2023

St. John's, NL and virtual

Chairperson: Christina Bourne

Context

The status of Atlantic Cod in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Subdivision 3Ps was last assessed in November 2021 (DFO 2022). The Fisheries Management Branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has requested updated advice on the status of 3Ps Atlantic Cod to inform decisions for this stock for the 2024–25 management period. 3Ps Atlantic Cod is prescribed under section 6 of the Fisheries Act and a rebuilding plan is in development for this stock (DFO 2023).

Objectives

Provide advice on:

• Stock status and trends, taking into account assumptions regarding stock structure and distribution. Include the historical and recent trajectory of both stock and fishing indicators (including SSB, fishing mortality, natural mortality, recruitment), and stock status with respect to its limit reference point (LRP).
• Environmental and climate change considerations affecting the stock including relevant summaries of oceanographic conditions, biological community structure and trends, and pertinent knowledge of ecological interactions (e.g., predator, prey) and stressors (e.g., anthropogenic impacts).
• Results of comparative fishing completed for the Newfoundland and Labrador multispecies survey as they specifically relate to 3Ps Atlantic Cod.

Evaluate or provide estimates of:

• The output of total catch under the Management Procedure (MP) adopted for 3Ps Atlantic Cod.
• Three-year SSB projections under the adopted MP and with no fishing removals. Provide 1. P(SSB>LRP) and 2. P(SSB_proj > SSB_current).
• Whether the median SSB estimates from the updated model fall within the 75 per cent probability envelope from the rebuilding projections under prevailing productivity conditions.
• Whether scientific information indicates a major change in the understanding of the stock and/or a sustained decline in the stock of three or more years.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Fisheries Management Branches)
• French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER-SPM)
• Provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
• Academia
• Indigenous groups
• Industry
• Non-government organizations

References

• DFO. 2022. Stock Assessment of NAFO Subdivision 3Ps Cod. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2022/022.
• DFO. 2023. Review of Rebuilding Plan Simulations for Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subdivision 3Ps Atlantic Cod. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2023/007.