Terms of Reference

Assessment of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Atlantic halibut

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

February 27, 2013
Mont-Joli, Québec

Chairperson: Bernard Sainte-Marie

Context

The Atlantic halibut commercial fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence began at the end of the 19th century. During the first half of the 20th century, this resource was exploited by American and Canadian fleets. Beginning in the second half of the 20th century, exploitation was almost exclusively carried out by the Canadian fleet from the four Atlantic Provinces as well as Quebec. From over 600 t during the 1960s, landings have steadily decreased until the early 80s, totalling 90 t in 1982. Landings increased again in the late 90s and now total 720 t, which is near the level observed 45 years ago.

The directed Atlantic halibut fishery is practiced on a competitive basis and is carried out by longliners. Atlantic halibut represent a by-catch for other fleets, in particular the gillnet Greenland halibut fleet. Overall, landings of Atlantic halibut bycatch in the Gulf were, in 2010, about 11% of total landings of this species.

The resource assessment is done every two years in order to highlight changes in the status of the resource that would justify adjustments to the conservation measures and management plan.

Objectives

Provide scientific advice on the management of the Atlantic halibut stock status in NAFO Divisions 4RST for the 2013 and 2014 fishing seasons. This advice shall include:

• An assessment of the status of the Atlantic halibut stock, based on:
  • commercial fishery statistic following the 2011 and 2012 fishing seasons for the management unit 4RST and NAFO sub-area 3Pn (overall distribution of landings and breakdown by division, fishing gear and month);
  • fishing effort and catch rates for the directed fishery on Atlantic halibut by the longline fleet;
  • commercial sampling data (size structure), including a breakdown by fishing gear (fixed versus mobile gear) and by size group (legal and sub-legal);
  • catch data (distribution, abundance and biomass) and biological data (size), from DFO research surveys conducted in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and from mobile sentinel surveys;
• The conclusions of the yield per recruit model developed for the Gulf Atlantic halibut stock.
• The identification and prioritization of research projects to be considered for the future.
• The determination of indicator thresholds for the Scientific advice reopening for years without stock assessment.
• Perspectives for 2013 and 2014 based on the assessment of the trends of fishery and biological indicators.

Expected Publications

• Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Advisory Report on Atlantic halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST);
• CSAS Proceedings summarizing the discussion.

Participation

• DFO Science and Fisheries Management
• Fishing industry
• Provincial representatives
• Aboriginal Communities / Organizations