Research Document 1998/73
État des stocks de pétoncles des eaux côtières du Québec
By M. Giguère, S. Brulotte, and P. Goudreau
Abstract
This report presents data used in to assess the scallop populations in the coastal waters Quebec. In Quebec, there are 17 management units for the scallop fishery covering the areas around Îles-de-la-Madeleine, the Gaspé peninsula and along the North Shore. In 1997, 82 regular permits were issued. Scallops from the Gaspé peninsula and the North Shore were assessed using commercial indices. Scallops from Îles-de-la-Madeleine and area 16De on the North Shore were assessed using both commercial indices and research survey indices. In Quebec, Iceland scallops and sea scallops are harvested indiscriminately. The landings are usually in the form of meat. In 1997, scallop landings in Quebec amounted to 260 t meat, of which 69 % was from the North Shore, 16 % from the Gaspé peninsula and 15 % from Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
Scallop landings in Îles-de-la-Madeleine were around 39 t in 1997, which is 17 % lower than in 1996. A new cohort of prerecruits was present in 1997, but it is weak. After the 1997 fishing season, almost all scallop beds were decimated and the harvestable biomass was at its lowest level since 1984. No improvement in recruitment to the fishery is expected before the year 2000. Fishing intensity in Îles-de-la-Madeleine is disproportionately high considering the availability of scallops.
Landings from the Gaspé peninsula are mostly from Chaleur Bay (19A) and Anticosti Island (18B). Area 19A landings have been stable since 1986, except for 1990 and 1997. In 1997, landings reached 21,4 t of meat, the highest level since 1987. Catches per unit effort showed minor fluctuations over that period, including a slight increase in 1997. Increased fishing effort over the last few years may be detrimental for the scallop population of area 19A. The situation in areas 17A (northern shore of the Gaspé peninsula) and 18B is not worrisome for the moment, since fishing intensity in these areas is low.
In 1997, around 180 t of scallop meat were landed on the North Shore of Quebec. The fishery in areas 16A, 16B and 16C on the Upper North Shore is unstable. Past exploratory fishing and the present status of the fishery indicate a limited potential in areas 16A and 16B. There has been a strong increase in fishing effort in area 16C. Harvesting must be carefully controlled in order to avoid overfishing. In 1997, scallop landings in areas 16Do, 16De, 16G, 16E and 18A amounted to about 143 t, coming mostly from area 16De. These areas are presently the most productive in Quebec. Catches per unit effort decreased almost everywhere except in 16Do and 16G. From 1993 to 1996, natural mortality increased considerably in areas 16De, 16G and 18A. In 1997, however, mortality rates were at most 24 % in these areas. The increasing mortality rate in these areas up until 1996, and the decreasing catch rates in areas 16De, 16G and 18A indicate that vigilance is necessary. In 1997, landings increased in area 15, but there were very little or no landings in areas 16F and 16H. The future of the Iceland scallop fishery in area 15 is uncertain.
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