Science Advisory Report  2011/007

Assessment of the Quebec North Shore (Division 4S) herring stocks in 2010

Summary

• Since 2006, herring catches on the North Shore of Quebec have ranged between 120 and 1,078 t. They totalled 403 t in 2010 compared to an annual average (2000-2009) of 308 t. Most herring catches were made in unit area 4Sw.
• Traditionally, the most important herring catches on the North Shore of Quebec were from a gillnet fishery. However, since 2008, the great majority of catches has been made with trap.
• The demographic structure of the two herring spawning stocks of the Quebec North Shore is characterized by the occasional occurrence of dominant year-classes. Some of these year-classes, such as 1980, 1982, 1994, and 2002 for spring spawners, and 1979, 1995 and 2000 for fall spawners, were observed over several years which suggests a low exploitation rate.
• There has been a clear downward trend in the mean length and weight at age for both herring spawning stocks since 1983. Maturity at length has varied little over the years. The length at 50% maturity (L50) is close to 250 mm.
• Based on the 2010 acoustic survey conducted in unit area 4Sw, the total biomass index of spring spawners totalled 3,500 t compared to 80,855 t for fall spawners.
• Quebec North Shore herring stocks are managed using a preventive Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 4,000 t. Catches could be higher than those currently carried out
• The information currently available is not sufficient to determine exactly how much higher catches could be. Any increase in fishing effort should be made gradually and be accompanied by strict monitoring of catches. Herring catches are well under the TAC.

This Science Advisory Report is from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Regional Advisory Meeting of February 18, 2011 on Assessment of the Quebec North Shore (Division 4S) herring stocks.  Additional publications from this process will be posted as they become available on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule.

Complete document (PDF, 1021 KB)

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