Research Document - 2000/069

Assessment of northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) off Baffin Island, Labrador and northeastern Newfoundland.

By D.G. Parsons, P.J. Veitch, D. Orr, G.T. Evans

Abstract

Assessments of northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) were performed for shrimp fishing areas 2, 4, 5 and 6, which correspond to Division 0B, Division 2G, Hopedale + Cartwright Channels and Hawke Channel + Division 3K, respectively. Within each area, status of the resource was inferred, in part, by examining trends in commercial catch, effort, catch per unit effort, fishing pattern and size/sex/age composition of the catches. Further, multispecies research trawl surveys conducted from 1995 to 1999, inclusive, provided information on distribution, abundance, biomass, size/sex composition and age structure of shrimp in Hawke Channel + Div. 3K for all five years, in Hopedale + Cartwright from 1996 to 1999 and in Div. 2G for 1996, 1997 and 1999.

Catch rates by offshore vessels in Hawke + 3K and Hopedale + Cartwright in recent years remained relatively stable at a high level. Research surveys showed that abundance/biomass indices in 1999 remained high relative to catch in both these areas but the survey estimates for Hopedale + Cartwright were imprecise. Within Div. 2G, catch rates fluctuated about a high level since 1991 with stability indicated since 1997. A healthy spawning stock has been maintained in recent years. Low survey coverage limits the usefulness of research vessel data. Status of the resource in Div. 0B remains uncertain in the absence of research trawl surveys.

The shrimp resource in Hawke Channel + Div. 3K is currently healthy with high abundance of males and females. Residual female biomass and stronger 1997 and 1998 year classes should buffer the effects of a weak 1996 year class for the next few years. Current status in Hopedale + Cartwright appears favourable from the fishery data and research surveys indicate a healthy female component. Prospects beyond 2000 are uncertain because the lack of a recruitment index does not allow projection. Current status in Div. 2G also is favourable. The fishery data indicate a high abundance of females and research data indicate a healthy spawning stock. Prospects beyond 2000 are uncertain in the absence of a recruitment index. Lack of data creates uncertainty in understanding the current state of stock distribution, delineation and exploitation level in Div. 0B and prospects beyond 2000 are unknown.

Complete document (PDF, 7,169 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.