Terms of Reference

Assessment of Gulf of St. Lawrence capelin stock (4RST)

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

February 28, 2013
Mont-Joli, Québec

Chairperson: Martin Castonguay

Context

In the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, capelin has traditionally been used as fertilizer, bait or for its oil. Towards the end of the 1970s, the emergence of a Japanese market for roe-bearing females sparked a rapid growth of the fishery with catches that increased from approximately 700 t per year to nearly 10,000 t. In NAFO Divisions 4RST, most catches are made on the west coast of Newfoundland by a fleet of small and large purse seiners and by trap fishermen. Capelin is also caught using traps on Quebec’s Lower North Shore and weirs in the St. Lawrence Estuary. In addition to recreational catches made on beaches during the spawning season, capelin are also a by-catch of the shrimp (Pandalus borealis) fishery and the groundfish and shrimp multidisciplinary surveys conducted annually in the Estuary and northern and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Even though capelin population structures in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence are not clearly defined, the species is managed according to two distinct management units, NAFO Divisions 4R and 4ST. A Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 11,195 t is applied to Division 4R compared with 1,805 t for all of Divisions 4ST. There is no abundance survey specifically directed on capelin. Consequently, it is impossible to calculate spawning biomass, fishing mortality and limit reference points, which would help define, based on the precautionary approach, a strategic framework for the fishery and a TAC.

The last capelin assessment in Divisions 4RST was conducted in 2011. The Fisheries Management Branch requested science advice on this stock for the 2013 and 2014 fishing seasons.

Objectives

Provide scientific advice on the capelin status in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Divisions 4RST) to adjust the modalities of the fishery management for the 2013 and 2014 fishing seasons. This review will include:

• An assessment of the distribution of capelin based on:
  • An analysis of the commercial fishery statistics following the 2011 and 2012 fishing seasons (overall distribution of landings and breakdown by division, unit area, month and fishing gear);
  • Calculation of a performance index for the purse seine fishery;
  • An analysis of the biological data collected by port samplers or by observers (size structure and some biological parameters);
  • Calculation of the capelin by-catches by NAFO unit area in the Gulf of St. Lawrence shrimp fishery;
  • Data from the CCGS Teleost research surveys conducted in the northern and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (dispersion and distribution indices);
• Specific advices relying on the availability of recent and relevant data that can improve the responsible management of stock such as:
  • The presentation of the results and highlights of the genetic study on the northwest Atlantic stock differentiation;
• The identification and prioritization of research projects to be considered for the future.
• Recommendations on acceptable harvest levels for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Expected publications

• A Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Advisory Report on capelin (4RST).
• CSAS Proceedings summarizing the discussions.
• CSAS Research Document.

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science and Fisheries Management Branches
• Fishing industry
• Provincial representatives
• Aboriginal communities/organizations