Science Advisory Report 2010/011
Assessment of cod stock in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (3Pn,4RS) in 2009
Summary
- The 2009/2010 total allowable catch (TAC) was 7,000 t. Preliminary landings available as of January 2010 totalled 4,686 t Landings from the 2009 recreational fishery were not available at the time of the assessment.
- Catch rates from the commercial logbooks and the telephone survey conducted with fishermen show a decline since 2006.
- Sentinel catch rates in weight for longlines and gillnets peaked in 2006. Both have declined over the past three years by 54% and are slightly below the 1995 to 2008 average.
- The catch rate for the DFO research vessel (RV) survey and the mobile gear sentinel survey remain low and show no trend since 1997.
- Natural mortality estimated by the sequential population analysis (SPA) over the last years has increased. Possible causes are an increase in seal consumption and an increase of unaccounted mortality such as discards and the recreational fishery.
- The exploitation rate estimated by the SPA has increased since 2004 to reach 29% in 2009. This is confirmed by tagging analysis that indicates exploitation rates of 26% in 2008 and 21% in 2009.
- The abundance of the spawning stock in 2009 and projected to 2010 is well below the limit reference point. The stock has remained in the critical zone for many years.
- According to the various analysis presented (variations of mature numbers according to the landings, analysis of life tables based on fecundity), it is obvious that landings above 4,000 t will not allow the stock to increase.
- In order to promote stock rebuilding, catches in 2010 should be less than 4,000 t.
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