Terms of Reference

Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) Stock Assessment in 2024

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

February 20-21, 2025

Mont-Joli, QC

Chairperson: Hugo Bourdages

Context

The Fisheries Management Branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has requested a stock assessment and advice for the catch option for the Greenland Halibut fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) (Integrated Fisheries Management Plans for the Quebec and Gulf regions).

The last scientific advice on the stock status took place in 2022 (DFO 2023) and an update on the stock status was carried out in the fall of 2023 (DFO 2024).

Objectives

Provide scientific advice for the management of the Greenland Halibut fishery in the biological unit of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fishing seasons based on:

• The stock status indicator and trends compared to reference points, namely the biomass of individuals over 40 cm in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence survey, as well as landings, exploitation rate and recruitment indices;
• The analysis of commercial fishing data and scientific surveys;
• Considerations related to the ecosystem and climate change;
• The estimation of unaccounted mortality in the gillnet fishery targeting Greenland halibut;
• The results of the harvest decision rule (DFO 2022) for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fishing seasons and the catch option corresponding to the target exploitation rate.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fisheries Management and Science sectors
• Provincial governments
• Academia
• Indigenous communities/organizations
• Fishing industry
• Environmental non-government organizations

References

• DFO. 2022. Development of a precautionary approach for the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Greenland halibut stock. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2022/002.
• DFO. 2023. Assessment of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Greenland halibut stock in 2022. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2023/022.
• DFO. 2024. Update of the Stock Status Indicator for Greenland Halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) in 2023. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2024/002.