Terms of Reference

Update of Stock Status Indicators for Cod (3Pn4RS) and Atlantic halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) in 2013

Regional Science Response Process – Quebec Region

December 6, 2013
Mont-Joli, Québec

Chairperson: Charley Cyr

Context

The Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) stock assessment is conducted every two years and the last assessment took place in February 2013. The northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (3Pn, 4RS) cod (Gadus morhua) stocks assessment is also conducted every two years, but the last assessment took place in March 2012. In the interim years, Fisheries management asks for a brief review of the main resource indicators to determine if major changes in the stock status warrant further consideration before the full assessment planned for winter 2015.

Objectives

The meeting objectives are to review the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Atlantic halibut and northern Gulf (3Pn, 4RS) cod indicators in 2013, namely:

• Updating landings (cod)
• Updating catch rates for DFO and Sentinel Fisheries surveys (cod and Atlantic halibut)
• Updating size frequency of DFO survey (Atlantic halibut)

Expected Publications

• Two Science Responses
• A CSAS Research Document on the results from the 2013 survey in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science)