Terms of Reference

Newfoundland & Labrador Comparative Fishing Analysis - Part 2

Regional Peer Review - Newfoundland and Labrador Region

April 15-18, 2024

St. John's, NL

Chairperson: Rick Rideout

Context

Multispecies bottom trawl surveys have been conducted annually in the spring and fall in the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Region using a Campelen 1800 survey trawl aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Teleost and CCGS Alfred Needler since 1995. These surveys are used to estimate the distribution and abundance of many fish and invertebrate species, to determine species life history characteristics, and form the basis of a number of ecosystem indicators. The CCGS Alfred Needler and CCGS Teleost will no longer be used for these surveys after 2022 and 2023, respectively, and will be replaced by the Offshore Fishery Science Vessels (OFSVs), the CCGS John Cabot and CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier. The Campelen 1800 Survey trawl will continue to be used, with a few modifications. Comparative fishing has been ongoing since 2021 to determine differences in catchability between the outgoing vessels and the new vessels with the modified Campelen trawl.

This is the second of two CSAS processes for the NL Region comparative fishing program (DFO 2024).

Please note that this will be a highly technical meeting comparing the fishing efficiency of old and new research vessels and will not be touching on aspects related to stock or ecosystem trends or status. The influence of any derived conversion factors or lack of suitable conversion factors will be discussed during subsequent Regional Assessment Processes.

Objectives

Evaluate the results of comparative fishing completed for multispecies survey in the NL Region. To achieve this, specifically:

• Determine conversion factors for the CCGS Teleost in spring (NAFO Div. 3LNOPs) with the CCGS John Cabot at the species-level where possible, or at higher taxonomic groupings where appropriate.
• Address recommendations identified in Newfoundland and Labrador Comparative Fishing Analysis, Part I, as data allow, including: the estimation of conversion factors for the Teleost for deepwater taxa and re-evaluation of some taxonomic groupings (e.g., functional groups).
• Provide an overview of the comparative fishing program with the Fishing Vessel (FV) Calvert and its potential application to the NL spring multispecies survey.

Expected Publications

• Research Document
• Science Advisory Report

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Academia
• Industry
• Indigenous Groups
• Provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
• Non-government organizations

References

• DFO. 2024. Newfoundland & Labrador Comparative Fishing Analysis – Part 1. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2024/002.
• Thiess, M.E., H. Benoit, D.S. Clark, K. Fong, L.G.S. Mello, F. Mowbray, P. Pepin, N.G. Cadigan, T. Miller, D. Thirkell, and L. Wheeland. 2018. Proceedings of the National Comparative Trawl Workshop, November 28-30, 2017, Nanaimo, BC. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3254: x + 40 p.
• Wheeland, L., Skanes, K., and Trueman, S. 2024. Summary of Comparative Fishing Data Collected in Newfoundland & Labrador from 2021 - 2022. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3579: iv +132 p.
• Yin, Y., and Benoît, H.P. 2022. A Comprehensive Simulation Study of A Class of Analysis Methods for Paired-Tow Comparative Fishing Experiments. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3466: vi + 99 p.