Science Advisory Report  2011/006

Assessment of shrimp stocks in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2010

Summary

• Landings totalled nearly 36,000 t in 2010 and were similar to those of 2009. The TACs were the same as those of 2009 in all areas except for Estuary where it was 10% lower. The fishing effort increased in 2010 in Sept-Iles and Anticosti. The commercial fishery catch rate decreased relatively to 2009 in all areas except Esquiman where it increased. The survey biomass index stayed similar to that of 2009 in all areas.
• The male and female abundance indices estimated from the fishery and survey data are combined to constitute the main indicator for the status of the stocks. This index gives an indication of the amount of females that will be available to the fishery and to the reproduction the following year. The comparison of the female abundance index to the provisional reference points allows determining in which zone, healthy, precautionary or critical, the stock is situated.
• The stock status indicator for Estuary has slightly improved in 2010. However, according to the results of the survey since the coverage of the area was extended, it seems that the total abundance of the stock is much higher than what was estimated before and that the exploitation rate is much lower. Consequently, the status quo is recommended for the 2011 TAC for this area.
• In Sept-Iles, both indicators have decreased relatively to 2007. In 2010, the stock status indicator was above the mean (1990-2009) and the female abundance was in the healthy zone. However, the female size was lower than the mean and the 2010 catches have generated an increase in the exploitation rate above the mean.
• In Anticosti, the female abundance has decreased since 2007 but was in the healthy zone in 2010 while the stock status indicator was slightly above the mean. The female size was lower than the mean and the 2010 catches have generated an increase in the exploitation rate above the mean.
• The stock status indicator for Esquiman has been decreasing since 2006 and the 2010 value is slightly above the mean. The female abundance has decreased since 2006. The 2010 value is similar to that of 2009 and is situated in the healthy zone. The female size was similar to the mean and the 2010 catches have generated an exploitation rate similar to the mean.
• The abundance has been decreasing gradually for the last 4 to 5 years in the Sept-Iles, Anticosti and Esquiman stocks and although they are still in the healthy zone, it is recommended to decrease the TACs in order to prevent the exploitation rates from increasing and to maintain the stocks in the healthy zone. In 2011, the TACs should be reduced by 10% relative to the 2010 TACs in each of these fishing areas.

This Science Advisory Report is from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Regional Advisory Meeting of January 26, 2011 on Assessment of Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence Shrimp Stocks.  Additional publications from this process will be posted as they become available on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule.

Complete document (PDF, 436 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.