Terms of Reference

Review of Analyses Conducted for the Development of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence Northern Shrimp Stocks Rebuilding Plan

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

December 16-17 and 19, 2024

Mont-Joli, QC

Chairperson: Hugues Benoit

Context

The four northern shrimp stocks in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) have been subject to the fish stocks provisions (FSP) since April 4, 2022. Given that the Sept-Îles, Anticosti and Esquiman stocks are below their respective limit reference points (DFO 2023), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is legally required to develop a rebuilding plan for these stocks, which meets the requirements of the FSP (DFO 2021) by October 27, 2025.

The Resource Management Branch engaged DFO Science to conduct an independent review of the work that was done to support the development of the rebuilding plan for three northern shrimp stocks in the EGSL. The results of the regional peer review will be used to support the development of some of the elements that will make up the rebuilding plan.

Objectives

The objective of the meeting is to review the available data and knowledge in order to assess the rebuilding potential of northern shrimp stocks in the Sept-Îles, Anticosti and Esquiman areas, including:

• Evaluate an approach to modelling the current and future response of stocks to changes in productivity and fishing exploitation rates;
• Propose a rebuilding target for each stock;
• Calculate the minimum time required to reach the rebuilding target for each stock in the absence of any fishery under current productivity conditions (Tmin);
• Apply the modelling tool to support the quantitative assessment of harvest control rules as part of the rebuilding plan;
• Propose a method for monitoring the stock biomass in line with the management objectives and the periodic review.

Expected Publications

• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada Sectors
• Fishing industry
• Indigenous communities and organizations
• Provincial Governments
• External and academic experts
• Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations

References

• DFO. 2021. Science Guidelines to Support Development of Rebuilding Plans for Canadian Fish Stocks. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2021/006.
• DFO. 2023. Review of the Precautionary Approach and Assessment of Northern Shrimp in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2023. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2023/044.