Research Document - 1999/160
The 1999 Assessment of Pollock (Pollachius virens) in NAFO Divisions 4VWX and Subdivision 5Zc.
By J. Nielson, P. Perley, C. Nelson, T. Johnston and K. Zwanenburg
Abstract
In 1998, landings increased to 14,371 t from 11,936 t in 1997. With the exception of large mobile gear, most sectors were able to catch close to their quota. Landings in the small mesh silver hake fishery decreased to 6 t in 1999 from 10 t in 1998. Landings of pollock in the domestic redfish fishery, which also uses relatively small mesh gear, were 436 t. In 1999, the TAC of 12,000 t was prorated to a 15 month fishing year ending March 31, 2000 (13,440 t). Landings to the end of August 1999 were 5,055 t. In constrast to 1998, members of most gear sectors indicated that they would not be able to catch their quota.
The stock status evaluation was based on an analytical assessment employing landings statistics, sampling for size and age composition of the commercial catch, trends in commercial fishery catch rate, survey information and examination of the spatial distribution of the fishery and the resource. Available indicators of stock status indicate that biomass is less than average, recent recruitment has been poor, there is an absence of older fish in the population, and there are spatial changes in the resource and fishery distributions that are worrisome. The F0.1 catch for the fishing year commencing April 1, 2000 is 7000 t.
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