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Research Document 2017/022

Winter recreational groundfish fishery in the Saguenay Fjord from 1996 to 2016

By Gauthier, J., and Marquis, M.-C.

Abstract

The status of exploited marine species in the Saguenay Fjord was assessed on a yearly basis from 1995 to 2010 and is now determined every two years. The assessment is based on various indicators from the recreational winter fishery and a research survey conducted by DFO. This document presents the data and methods used to produce indicators of the winter recreational groundfish fishery in the Saguenay Fjord. Number of fish per unit effort (NUE) estimates for more than 20 years of sampling fisheries (1996-2016) are presented for the following species: redfish (Sebastes spp.), Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua), Greenland Cod (Gadus ogac) and Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides). Moreover, the size structures and biological parameters of the sampled populations are presented.

Groundfish catches in the Saguenay winter recreational fishery are composed on average of 88% redfish, 10% cod (Atlantic and Greenland Cod) and 2% Greenland Halibut for the 1996-2016 time series. For the Saguenay as a whole, the redfish index of abundance decreased from 1996 to 2006 and remains low since with values clearly below those at the beginning of the series. Indices of abundance for Atlantic Cod, Greenland Cod, and Greenland Halibut are at low level. However, since 2013 there has been an increase in NUE for the Atlantic Cod and Greenland Halibut with values above their respective series average.

Groundfish recruitment in the Saguenay relies on the arrival of juveniles from the Estuary. Strong Redfish (Sebastes mentella) year-classes (2011, 2012 and 2013) were noted in the Estuary, and they were more abundant than in the last 30 years. These cohorts have been observed in the Saguenay Fjord since 2013. Hence, the medium-term outlook is encouraging for the winter recreational Redfish fishery in the Saguenay Fjord.

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