Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update of Atlantic Cod in NAFO Divisions 4X5Y

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

December 11, 2024

Virtual

Chairperson: Tara McIntyre

Context

Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) ranges from Georges Bank to northern Labrador in the Canadian Atlantic. There are several concentrations of cod within this range, including those on the Southern Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions 4X and 5Y. In 2010, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the southern population unit (4X5YZjm) as Endangered, and a Recovery Potential Assessment was completed in 2011.

A framework review for the 4X5Y Cod stock undertaken in March and November 2018, including a review of data and inputs, ecosystem information, modelling approaches, and data-limited approaches (Andrushchenko et al. 2022, Wang and Irvine 2022). The last 4X5Y Cod stock assessment was conducted in 2018 (DFO 2019), with stock status updates provided in 2020 (DFO 2021) and 2022 (DFO 2023). In support of the decision-making for the 2025 fishery, DFO Maritimes Resource Management has requested a review of resource status from DFO Maritimes Science.

Objectives

The objectives of this regional peer review process are to:

• Evaluate any new biological and fishery information on 4X5Y Cod. In particular, provide the following information:
• fishery landings
• research vessel (RV) survey biomass and length composition
• age-structured indices of abundance
• total mortality (Z)
• relative fishing mortality (relF)
• Run the accepted population model, providing new three-year projections at various harvest levels.
• Report on current stock status with respect to Blim and report the F trend.
• Review the expected assessment/update cycle and confirm the exceptional circumstances used to trigger an assessment.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• DFO Science, Maritimes Region
• DFO Resource Management, Maritimes

References

• Andrushchenko, I., Clark, D., Irvine, F., MacEachern, E., Martin, R. and Wang, Y. 2022. 2018 4X5Y Atlantic Cod Framework Data Inputs. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2022/006. v + 86 p.
• DFO. 2019. Stock Assessment of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) in NAFO Divisions 4X5Y. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2019/015.
• DFO. 2021. Stock Status Update of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) in NAFO Divisions 4X5Yb for 2020. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2021/023.
• DFO. 2023. Stock Status Update of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) in NAFO Divisions 4X5Y for 2022. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2023/017.
• Wang, Y. and Irvine, F. 2022. 2018 Stock Assessment Modelling Framework for 4X5Y Cod. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2022/017. iv + 44 p.