Research Document - 1999/096

Status report for northern Labrador Arctic charr, 1998.

By J.B. Dempson and M. Shears

Abstract

Catch and effort statistics for the northern Labrador Arctic charr fishery in 1998 are summarized and information on catch-at-age and weight-at-age updated. Landings of 37.5 tonnes were similar to 1997 but were derived entirely from within the Nain Fishing Region as there was no reported commercial harvest of charr from the Makkovik Region in 1998. Landings from the Nain Region were 10% higher than the previous year and were the highest since 1992. Increased effort in the Nain stock unit and the highest catch rates since 1990 at both Nain and Voisey stock units contributed to the higher commercial production in 1998. Effort in recent years is still low, relative to the 1980's, and interpretation of current commercial catch rates as an index of stock abundance, could be problematic. Landings of anadromous Arctic charr from the Nain Fishing Region over the past 25 years (1974 - 1998) totalled approximately 2589 tonnes, or over 5.7 million pounds. Of this amount, 77% (1993 tonnes) has been harvested from the three primary stock complexes (Voisey, Nain, Okak) and illustrates the overall capacity of this area of the north coast to produce fish. There was no experimental in-river terminal harvest for Arctic charr in 1998 and the commercial Atlantic salmon fishery was closed. We note that the amount of charr harvested for food is unknown.

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