Science Advisory Report  2015/017

2015 Assessment of Northern Shrimp, Pandalus borealis, and Striped Shrimp, Pandalus montagui, in the eastern and western assessment zones

Summary

• The assessment includes the survey and fishery data since the 2013 assessment and 2014 update.
• The Central and Arctic Region reorganized its assessment surveys in 2014. For shrimp, the Western Assessment Zone (WAZ) is now to be surveyed annually in conjunction with the Northern Shrimp Research Foundation (NSRF) – DFO/Campelen survey of the Eastern Assessment Zone (EAZ).
• In the WAZ, the 2014 survey begins a new time series, not directly comparable with previous surveys because no trawl standardization between the DFO/Cosmos and NSRF-DFO/Campelen surveys has taken place.
• Survey biomass, fishery data, and fishery exploitation rate indices are used to assess Pandalus borealis and Pandalus montagui.

Eastern Assessment Zone – Pandalus borealis

• Total catch (directed and by-catch) varied without trend around 6,000 t from 1997 through 2014/15. Catch statistics in 2014/15 are not fully available but the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) (8,250 t) will not be taken.
• The fishable biomass index was above the long-term mean during 2009 to 2011 and declined to be below the mean during 2013 and 2014, and in 2014 was at 50,500 t.
• The female spawning stock biomass (SSB) index was above the mean during 2009 to 2012 and declined to be below the mean during 2013 and 2014, and in 2014 was at 34,000 t.
• Recruitment prospects are uncertain.
• The reported exploitation rate index has varied without trend since 2007/08 and in 2014/15 was at the long-term mean of 9.9% with 60% of the TAC taken. Based on the 2014/15 TAC of 8,250 t, the potential exploitation rate index was 16.4%.
• The resource is currently in the Healthy Zone within the Precautionary Approach (PA) framework well above the Upper Stock Reference.

Eastern Assessment Zone – Pandalus montagui

• Total catch (directed and by-catch) in 2014/15 was 401 t, 48% of the 840 t TAC.
• Biomass indices have fluctuated widely from 2011 to 2014 making interpretation difficult. The 2014 fishable biomass index was estimated to be 16,600 t. The female SSB index was 12,700 t.
• Recruitment prospects are uncertain.
• The reported exploitation rate index has varied without trend from 2008/09 through 2014/15, averaging 8.3%. The reported exploitation rate index in 2014/15 was 2.4% and the potential exploitation rate index was 5.1%.
• The status of the resource within the PA framework is uncertain because of the wide fluctuations in the female SSB index. As a result, caution is advised when setting the TAC.

Western Assessment Zone – Pandalus borealis

• Catch was 847 t in 2014/15 which is about 41% of the 2,080 t TAC.
• In 2014, the fishable biomass index was 21,700 t and female SSB index was 12,300 t.
• The exploitation rate index for 2014/15 was about 4%. The current TAC represents a potential exploitation rate index of about 7%.

Western Assessment Zone – Pandalus montagui

• Catch was 5,800 t in 2014/15 of the 5,860 t TAC.
• In 2014, the fishable biomass index was 77,100 t and female SSB index was 38,900 t.
• The exploitation rate index for 2014/15 was about 8%.

This Science Advisory Report is from the 2015 Assessment of Northern and Striped Shrimp held February 17-23, 2015. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

Complete document (PDF, 2,364 KB)

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