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Research Document - 2010/072

Assessment of the Scotian Shelf silver hake population through 2009

By M.A. Showell, G. Young, and G.M. Fowler

Abstract

The last complete assessment of Scotian Shelf silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis) was conducted in 2005 and included data to 2005. This assessment includes new information from the commercial fishery and research cruises from 2006 to 2009. Attributes of stock status are generally poor. Survey biomass remains at or near the lowest in the times series. Growth at present is poor, with condition and length-at-age below long-term averages. However, some improvement has been seen in seen in condition and weight-at-age. Total mortality (Z), on ages 2-4 and older fish has been variable, but Z on age 1 fish has increased in recent years. The 2002, 2004 and 2005 year classes were above average, sustained the fishery at ages 1 and 2, but did not result in an increase in biomass. Recent year classes (2006-2008) have been near average, and commercial catch rates may become lower as a result, as well as a decline in abundance at older ages. This exploitation pattern of the Scotian Shelf silver hake fishery may be unsustainable and efforts should be made to reduce the proportion of age 1 fish in the catch through gear modifications or area closures.

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