Terms of Reference

Quebec North Shore (4S) Herring (Clupea harengus) Stocks Update in 2024

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

February 28, 2025

Virtual

Chairperson: Charley Cyr

Context

The Fisheries Management sector of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has requested a stock status update for the Quebec North Shore (NAFO Division 4S) herring. This stock is prescribed under section 6 of the Fisheries Act.

The objective of this meeting is to determine if there have been any changes in the main stock status indicators that would require adjustments to the 2025-2026 management plan. The Quebec North Shore herring stock assessment is carried out every two years. The last complete stock assessment was carried out in March 2021 (DFO 2021). The last stock status update was carried out in 2023 (DFO 2023).

Objectives

Provide advice on:

• Stock status and trends, taking into account assumptions about stock structure and distribution. Including historical and recent trajectory of stock and fishery indicators such as commercial fishery landings, age composition of commercial catches and biomass index from acoustic survey of unit area 4Sw.
• Environmental and climate change considerations affecting the stock, such as zooplankton abundance and phenology.
• Outlook and/or recommendations for harvest levels for the 2025 and 2026 fishing seasons based on available data.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

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

References

• DFO. 2021. Assessment of the Quebec North Shore (Division 4S) herring stocks in 2020. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2021/037.
• DFO. 2023. Update of stock status indicators for Quebec North Shore (Division 4S) herring in 2022. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2023/032