Research Document - 2013/004
Scallop Production Areas in the Bay of Fundy: Stock Status for 2012 and Forecast for 2013
By L. Nasmith, B. Hubley, S.J. Smith, and A. Glass
Abstract
This document reviews the status of scallop stocks in Scallop Production Areas (SPAs) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (Bay of Fundy and Approaches) for 2011/2012 with advice for 2012/2013. The Bay of Fundy is fished by three separate scallop fishing fleets: Full Bay, Mid Bay, and Upper Bay. The Full Bay fleet fishing season is from 1 October to 30 September, while the Mid and Upper Bay fleet season is from 1January to 31 December.
In this assessment, the temporal patterns in condition and stock composition are used to calculate overall growth parameters for use in population models. Improvements made to the models in the 2010/2011 assessment, and changes in survey stratification, were used again in this assessment. In 2012, changes were made to the survey gear used in areas 1A, 1B, 3 and 4. Analyses of a comparative survey show that the new gear does not require a conversion factor, and therefore does not impact the survey catch time series (results presented in Smith et al. 2013).
The Full Bay fleet caught 209 t against a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 200 t in SPA 1A in 2011/2012. Condition in this area increased but there was little change in survey biomass. Population biomass estimated by the model was 1,277 t (meats) in 2012, up slightly from the estimate of 1,179 t for 2011 and approximately equal to the median (1997 to 2011 ) biomass of 1,222 t. A catch of 200 t in 2012/2013 should correspond to the reference exploitation rate (0.15), and is projected to result in a 9.4% decline in biomass for 2013.
The Full Bay fleet caught 161 t against a TAC of 152.25 t in SPA 1B in 2012/2013. The Mid Bay fleet caught 103 t against a TAC of 107 t, and Upper Bay fleet caught 39.9 t against a TAC of 40.59 t. Catch rates for the fleets have been stable, except in 28D which had declining catch rates. Population biomass estimated by the model was 1,743 t (meats) in 2012, essentially unchanged from the estimate of 1,781 t for 2011 and below the median (1997 to 2011) biomass of 1,870 t. A catch of 325 t for 2012/2013 should correspond to the reference exploitation rate (0.15), and is projected to result in a 0.1% increase in biomass for 2013.
For the 2011/2012 fishing season, SPA 3 was split into two areas, 3A and 3B, and a separate quota was allocated to each area. In SPA 3A, which included St. Mary’s Bay and the Eastern portion of the Brier/Lurcher area, Full Bay fleet caught 261.7 t from a TAC of 225 t. In SPA 3B, the Western portion of the Brier/Lurcher area, a TAC of 75 t was set so the fishing Industry could explore the area. Full Bay fleet only caught 2.6 t of the TAC in SPA 3B. Catch rates in St. Mary’s Bay declined from 2010/2011, but increased in Brier/Lurcher. Population biomass estimated by the model was 1,039 t (meats) in 2012, an increase of 14% from the estimate of 914 t for 2011, which was the median biomass from 1996 to 2011. The population model underestimated the median biomass in 2012, due in large part to higher than expected productivity, as recruitment continues to be low in this area. A catch of 175 t for 2012/2013 should correspond to the reference exploitation rate (0.15) and is projected to result in a 2% decline in biomass.
The Full Bay fleet caught a total of 114 t against a TAC of 120 t in SPA 4 in 2011/2012. Catch rates in this area were at the long-term median. Recruitment in this area continues to be low, and 2012 was a low point in the time series for recruits seen in the survey. Population biomass estimated by the model was 716 t (meats) in 2012, an increase of 5% from the estimate of 681 t for 2011 and just below the median (1983 to 2011) biomass of 754 t. A catch of 110 t should correspond to the reference exploitation rate (0.15) and is projected to result in a 12.7% decline in biomass in 2013.
In SPA 5, landings were 6 t against a TAC of 10 t. Catch rates declined and are below the long-term median, and are the fourth lowest since 1997. The annual survey was discontinued in this area as of 2009 and prospects of future recruitment events are unknown.
A total of 55.5 t was caught in SPA 6 against at TAC of 140 t. Full Bay fleet caught less than 1 t of their 21 t TAC, and Mid Bay fleet caught 54.7 t of their 119 t TAC. Mid Bay fleet catch rates decreased in all areas of SPA 6 and are below long-term averages. Survey abundance has decreased in this area, most significantly in SPA 6A, while condition improved. Trends for the catch rate and the survey in this area suggest that biomass in SPA 6 has declined in 2012.
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