Terms of Reference

Assessment of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subdivision 3Ps Atlantic Cod

Regional Peer Review - Newfoundland & Labrador Region

October 28-31, 2024

St. John’s, NL

Chairperson: Christina M. Bourne

Context

The status of Atlantic Cod in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Subdivision 3Ps was last assessed in November 2023 (DFO 2024). 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 2025–26 management period. 3Ps Atlantic Cod is prescribed under section 6 of the Fisheries Act. A management procedure to inform the annual TAC for this stock has been adopted as part of a rebuilding plan for this stock.

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). 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, the total authorized fishery removals from the 2024/25 management period, and with no fishing removals. Provide
• P(SSB>LRP) and
• 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. 2024. NAFO Subdivision 3Ps Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) Stock Assessment in 2023. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2024/016.

• Wheeland, L. and Trueman, S. 2024. On the Relative Catchability of Atlantic Cod in the Newfoundland and Labrador Multispecies Trawl Surveys. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2024/038. iv + 21 p.