Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update of Offshore Scallop: Browns Bank North and Georges Bank ‘a’

Regional Peer Review – Maritimes Region

February 13, 2024

Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Rabindra Singh

Context

The purpose of this science response process is to update the stock status of offshore scallop on Browns Bank North and Georges Bank ‘a’. The last full assessment of these stocks was in 2013 (DFO 2013a,b; Hubley et al. 2013) and the last updates were conducted in 2023 (DFO 2023 a,b). The assessment and advice presented in the Browns Bank North update uses the framework established in 2011 (Hubley et al. 2011) for Browns Bank North only. Browns Bank South is a marginal growth area for scallops and has separate management measures. The assessment and advice presented in the Georges Bank update uses the framework established in 2009 (Jonsen et al. 2009), and is for the main fishery on Georges Bank ‘a’ only. Georges Bank ‘b’ is a marginal growth area for scallops and has separate management measures. Some elements of the fishery in Georges Bank ‘b’ are also presented for historical purposes. This science response process uses key results from the last assessments with data from 2023, to provide science advice for the management of the 2024 offshore scallop fishery on Browns Bank North and Georges Bank ‘a’.

Objectives

The objectives of this science response process are to:

• Provide an update on the stock status of offshore scallops on Browns Bank North (Scallop Fishing Area 26) and Georges Bank ‘a’ (Scallop Fishing Area 27) in relation to established reference points, where available.
• Evaluate the consequences of different harvest levels during the 2024 fishery on stock biomass in relation to established reference points where available.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

• DFO. 2013a. Assessment of Browns Bank North Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/059.
• DFO. 2013b. Assessment of Georges Bank Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/058.
• DFO. 2023a. Stock Status Update of Browns Bank North Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) for the 2023 Fishing Season. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2023/029.
• DFO. 2023b. Stock Status Update of Georges Bank ‘a’ Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) for the 2023 Fishing Season. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2023/028.
• Hubley, P.B., A. Reeves, S.J. Smith, and L. Nasmith. 2013. Georges Bank ‘a’ and Browns Bank ‘North’ Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) Stock Assessment. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2013/079.
• Hubley, P.B., A. Glass, A. Reeves, J. Sameoto, and S.J. Smith. 2011. Browns Bank North Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) Stock Assessment. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2011/042.
• Jonsen, I.D., A. Glass, B. Hubley, and J. Sameoto. 2009. Georges Bank ‘a’ Scallop Framework Assessment: Data Inputs and Population Models. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/034.