Terms of Reference

2024 Stock Status of British Columbia Wild Geoducks

Regional Peer Review - Pacific Region

March 4, 2025

Virtual

Chairperson: Ken Fong

Context

The Fisheries Management sector of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has requested yearly updates of biomass estimates, stock index and stock status for British Columbia (BC) wild Geoducks (DFO 2025).

The purpose of this meeting is to summarize 2024 updates to BC wild Geoduck biomass estimates provided to fishery managers for setting Geoduck quotas for the 2025-2026 fishing season and to provide updated stock index and stock status. Last full assessment was in 2023 (DFO 2024).

Objectives

To provide estimates of BC wild Geoduck stock biomass, stock index and stock status, updated in 2024, and summarize the Science Advice provided to fishery managers for setting quotas for the 2025–2026 Geoduck fishing season.

Provide advice on:

• Stock status and trends such as, biomass and actual annual harvest rate (total allowable catch divided by current coastwide biomass). Provide the stock index for the BC Geoduck stock as a whole, and determine Geoduck stock status relative to the Limit Reference Point and Upper Stock Reference. Compare the estimate of the actual Geoduck annual harvest rate to the Removal Reference.
• Ecosystem and climate change considerations such as the impact of Sea Otter predation.
• TAC set by fishery managers for the 2025–2026 Geoduck fishing season in relation to harvest option estimates.
• Summarize estimates of geoduck density, mean weight, and bed area, incorporating the most recent data from fishery-independent density dive surveys (conducted in 2023) and harvest events (2022–2023 fishing season). Provide estimates of geoduck biomass by Pacific Fishery Management Area and coastwide, for sub-beds in the following categories: potentially available for harvest, impacted by Sea Otter predation, located in closures, and total.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Fisheries Management)

References

• DFO. 2025. Integrated Fisheries Management Plan. Geoduck and Horseclam. April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
• DFO. 2024. Stock Status Update of Wild Geoducks in British Columbia for 2023. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2024/027.