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Science Response 2013/004

Maritimes research vessel survey trends on the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy

Context

DFO has conducted summer research vessel (RV) surveys in the Maritimes Region, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) subunits 4VWX and a small portion of 5Y, using a standardized protocol since 1970 (Figure 1).  Results of these surveys provide information on trends in abundance for most groundfish species in the Maritimes Region. While these data reflect trends in biomass and abundance and are a critical part of science-based stock assessments, a full assessment, including other sources of data, would be required to evaluate the impacts of management measures on population status. Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (FAM) requested a review of the DFO RV survey information on the following list of fish stocks: 4X cod, 4VsW cod, 4Vn cod, 4X haddock, 4VW haddock, 4X white hake, 4VW white hake, 4VWX silver hake, 4VWX+5 pollock, Unit II redfish, Unit III redfish, 4VW flatfishes, and 4X flatfishes, 3NOPs4VWX+5 Atlantic halibut, Atlantic wolffish, monkfish, 4X and 4VW smooth skate, thorny skate, barndoor skate, winter skate, little skate, 4VWX spiny dogfish, and longhorn sculpin. The survey information will be used by FAM as background for discussions with various industry stakeholders on recommendations for management measures, and to determine which stocks should be reviewed in more detail in 2013/14.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Special Response Process of October 24, 2012, on the Review of Maritimes Research Vessel Survey Trends.  Additional publications from this process will be posted as they become available on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Advisory Schedule.

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