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A current assessment of Northern, Spotted, and Atlantic Wolffish related to population status, life history, and habitat

Zonal Peer Review - Newfoundland & Labrador, Maritimes, Gulf, Quebec, and Central & Arctic regions

January 23-24, 2013
St. John’s, NL

Chairperson: Geoff Veinott

Context

The Recovery Strategy for Northern Wolffish (Anarhichas denticulatus) and Spotted Wolffish (Anarhichas minor), and Management Plan for Atlantic Wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) in Canada (Kulka et al. 2007) was published on the Species at Risk Act (SARA) public registry in February 2008.  The SARA s.46states that “the competent Minister must report on the implementation of the recovery strategy and the progress towards meeting its objectives, within five years after it is included in the public registry and in every subsequent five-year period, until its objectives have been achieved or the species’ recovery is no longer feasible. The report must be included in the public registry.” Similarly, s.72 of the Act states that “the competent Minister must monitor the implementation of the management plan and must assess its implementation five years after the plan is included in the public registry, and in every subsequent five-year period, until its objectives have been achieved. The report must be included in the public registry.”   The Newfoundland and Labrador Region Species at Risk Program is now responsible for delivery of the five-year report in February 2013.  In September 2010, a zonal pre-COSEWIC assessment of Atlantic, Northern, and Spotted wolffish was held to peer-review Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) information relevant to the COSEWIC status assessment for the three wolffish species in Canadian waters (DFO 2011).  Four DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) research documents were generated as a result of the assessment (see References).  The current Zonal Peer Review Process will provide an update on wolffish life history, population status, and habitat requirements summarizing research completed and data collected from September 2010 to present.  This information will be used to develop the five-year report (2008-2013) on recovery progress and implementation report for Northern Wolffish and Spotted Wolffish.

Objectives

The overall objective of this meeting is to provide an update on the status of Northern, Spotted and Atlantic wolffish since September 2010.  This information is needed to report on implementation of the Recovery Strategy and progress toward meeting its objectives for the Northern and Spotted wolffish and assess the implementation of the Management Plan for the Atlantic Wolffish.  In addition, reporting is required for a number of activities included in the draft Action Plan for Northern and Spotted wolffish.  Where data are available, and to the extent possible, information relevant to the following will be reviewed:

Expected Publications

Participation

References

DFO. 2011. Zonal Advisory Process for the pre-COSEWIC assessment of Atlantic, Northern and Spotted wolffish; September 14-15, 2010. DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Proceed. Ser. 2011/032. (Errata: October 2012).

Dutil, J.-D., Proulx, S. Hurtubise, S., and Gauthier, J. 2011. Recent findings on the life history and catches of wolffish (Anarhichas sp.) in research surveys and in the Sentinel Fisheries and Observer Program for the Estuary and Gulf of St-Lawrence. DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2010/126. x + 71 p.

Kulka, D., Hood, C., and Huntington, J. 2007. Recovery Strategy for Northern Wolffish (Anarhichas denticulatus) and Spotted Wolffish (Anarhichas minor), and Management Plan for Atlantic Wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) in Canada. Fisheries and Oceans Canada: Newfoundland and Labrador Region. St. John’s, NL. x + 103 p.

Ouellet, J.-F., Dutil, J.-D., and Hurlbut, T. 2011. Wolffish (Anarhichas sp.) landings in the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (1960–2009) recorded in commercial fisheries statistics. DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2010/125. viii + 30 p.

Simon, J., Rowe, S., and Cook, A. 2012. Pre-COSEWIC review of Atlantic Wolffish (Anarhichas lupus), Northern Wolffish (A. denticulatus), and Spotted Wolffish (A. minor) in the Maritimes Region. DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2011/088. vi + 73 p.

Simpson, M.R., Mello, L.G.S., Miri, C.M., and Treble, M. 2012. A pre-COSEWIC assessment of three species of wolffish (Anarhichas denticulatus, A. minor, and A. lupus) in Canadian waters of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2011/122. iv + 69 p.

Notice

Participation to CSAS peer review meetings is by invitation only.

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