Terms of Reference

Framework Development for Scallop Fishing Areas 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b, 26c, and 27b

Regional Peer Review – Maritimes Region

February 28 - March 1, 2024

Dartmouth, NS

Co-chairs: Leslie Nasmith, Tara McIntyre

Context

The Atlantic Sea Scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, is a bivalve mollusk that occurs on the continental shelf of the northwest Atlantic from the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In the Maritimes Region, the offshore scallop fishery harvests stocks within Scallop Fishing Areas (SFAs) 25, 26, and 27. SFA 25 represents the stocks on Sable Bank and Middle Bank (SFA 25a) and Banquereau Bank (SFA 25b). SFA 26 represents the stocks on Browns Bank north (SFA 26a), Browns Bank south (SFA 26b), and German Bank (SFA26c). SFA 27 represents the stocks on Georges Bank ‘a’ (SFA 27a) and Georges Bank ‘b’ (SFA27b).These stocks have historically been managed using fishery and survey indices, except for SFA 26a and 27a, which have been informed by a Bayesian delay-difference population model (Hubley et al. 2011, Hubley et al. 2014, Jonsen et al. 2009).

This peer review meeting will review available fishery and survey data and establish the scientific basis for the provision of management advice for the stocks in SFAs 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b, 26c, and 27b. The development of limit reference points, to address the new Fish Stock Provisions, for SFAs 25a, 26a, 26c, and 27b will be peer reviewed at a future meeting.

Objectives

The objectives of this peer review meeting are related to a review of the data inputs and an evaluation of approaches for population modelling:

• Data Inputs
• Describe and document the history of the fisheries and surveys on SFAs 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b, 26c, and 27b (including survey design)
• Update fishery and survey indices for SFAs 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b, 26c, and 27b
• Population Modelling
• Develop and evaluate stock assessment models for SFAs 25a and 26a

Expected Publications

• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fisheries Management and Science sectors
• Indigenous communities/organizations
• Provincial governments (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia)
• Industry Representatives
• Environmental Non-Government Organizations
• Academia

References

• Hubley, B., Glass, A., Reeves, A., Sameoto, J., and Smith, S.J. 2011. Browns Bank ’North’ scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) stock assessment. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2011/042: vi + 63 p.
• Hubley, P.B., Reeves, A., Smith, S.J., and Nasmith, L. 2014. Georges Bank ’a’ and Browns Bank North scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) stock assessment. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2013/079: vi + 58 p.
• Jonsen, I.D., Glass, A., Hubley, B., and Sameoto, J. 2009. Georges Bank ’a’ scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) framework assessment: Data inputs and population models. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/034: iv + 76 p.