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Stock status and fishery advice for May 2017 to May 2022 for Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) from NAFO Division 4T, southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Regional Peer Review – Gulf Region

March 1, 2017
Moncton, NB

Chairperson: Hugues Benoît

Context

The Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Div. 4T) is managed using a five-year management plan with an annual total allowable catch set at 300 t, by fishing years May 15, 2012 to May 14, 2017. The last stock assessment was completed in February 2012 for the fishery years May 2012 to May 2017 (DFO 2012; Morin et al. 2012). The NAFO 4T stock of Winter Flounder has experienced both long term and recent declines in abundance with increased natural mortality considered an important factor driving the dynamics of this stock. The research vessel and sentinel biomass indices for commercial sizes of Winter Flounder in recent years show that there has been no improvement in biomass since the last assessment with commercial biomass remaining at record low level (DFO 2016a).

In support of DFO Ecosystems and Fisheries Management multi-year management approach and request for advice for a TAC decision for May 2017 to May 2022, DFO Science Branch Gulf Region will undertake a peer review of the stock status and develop management advice for the fishery on Winter Flounder from NAFO Div. 4T.

Objectives

To develop science advice in support of the multi-year TAC decision (May 2017 to May 2022) for Winter Flounder (NAFO Div. 4T) the following items will be considered.

Expected Publications

Participation

References

DFO. 2012. Assessment of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Div. 4T). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/016.

DFO. 2016a. Updated indices of abundance to 2015 for stocks of six groundfish species assessed by DFO Gulf Region. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2016/016.

DFO. 2016b. Guidelines for providing interim-year updates and science advice for multi-year assessments. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2016/020.

Morin, R., Swain, D.P. and LeBlanc, S.G. 2012. The status of NAFO Division 4T winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), February 2012. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/053. iii + 60 p.

Notice

Participation to CSAS peer review meetings is by invitation only.

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