Science Advisory Report 2017/010

Assessment of Northern Shrimp, Pandalus borealis, and Striped Shrimp, Pandalus montagui, in the Eastern and Western Assessment Zones, February 2017

Summary

• The assessment includes the 2015 and 2016 survey and fishery data.
• In the Western Assessment Zone (WAZ), the 2014 survey began a new time series, not directly comparable with previous surveys because no trawl standardization between the DFO/Cosmos and Northern Shrimp Research Foundation (NSRF)-DFO/Campelen surveys has taken place. Because the time series is so short, trends cannot be inferred.
• In the WAZ, the resource is currently not assessed with an Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) Precautionary Approach (PA) framework. At least two additional surveys are needed prior to establishing the PA framework.
• Survey biomass, fishery data, and fishery exploitation rate indices are used to assess Pandalus borealis and Pandalus montagui.
• In 2016, the near-bottom average water temperature (-0.4 °C) in the WAZ was the lowest in the survey time series.

Eastern Assessment Zone Pandalus borealis

• Total catch varied without trend around 6,000 t from 1997 through 2016/17. Catch statistics in 2016/17 are preliminary.
• The fishable biomass index varied without trend around the long-term mean (64,954 t) and was 65,570 t in 2016.
• The female spawning stock biomass (SSB) index varied without trend around the long-term mean (40,125 t) and was 34,827 t in 2016.
• The reported exploitation rate index for 2016/17 was 8.4% with 59% of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) taken. Based on the 2016/17 TAC of 9,488 t, the potential exploitation rate index was 14.5%.
• The resource is currently in the Healthy Zone within the IFMP PA framework.

Eastern Assessment Zone Pandalus montagui

• Total catch in 2016/17 was 213 t, 25% of the 840 t TAC. Catch statistics in 2016/17 are preliminary.
• The fishable biomass index varied without trend around the long-term mean (12,713 t) and was 13,792 t in 2016.
• The female SSB index varied without trend around the long-term mean (9,037 t) and was 10,056 t in 2016.
• The reported exploitation rate index for 2016/17 was 1.5% with 25% of the TAC taken. Based on the 2016/17 TAC of 840 t, the potential exploitation rate index was 6.1%.
• The status of the resource within the PA framework is uncertain due to the wide fluctuations in the female SSB index. As a result, caution is advised when setting the TAC.

Western Assessment Zone Pandalus borealis

• Total catch in 2016/17 was 641 t, which is 31% of the 2,080 t TAC. Catch statistics in 2016/17 are preliminary.
• The fishable biomass index declined from 28,532 t in 2015 to 13,116 t in 2016.
• The female SSB index declined from 14,710 t in 2015 to 8,015 t in 2016.
• The reported exploitation rate index for 2016/17 was 4.9% with 31% of the TAC taken. Based on the 2016/17 TAC of 2,080 t, the potential exploitation rate index was 15.9%.

Western Assessment Zone Pandalus montagui

• Total catch in 2016/17 was 6,071 t, which is 99% of the 6,138 t TAC. Catch statistics in 2016/17 are preliminary.
• The fishable biomass index was 55,194 t in 2015 and 31,724 t in 2016.
• The female SSB index was 27,324 t in 2015 and 18,691 t in 2016.
• The reported exploitation rate index for 2016/17 was 19.1% with 99% of the TAC taken. Based on the 2016/17 TAC of 6,138 t, the potential exploitation rate index was 19.3%.

This Science Advisory Report is from the February 16–17, 2017 Northern and Striped Shrimp Assessment. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

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