Terms of Reference

Maritimes Region Science Advisory Process

Assessment of 4VWX Herring

14-15 April, 2010

Queen Square
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Tana Worcester

Context

Maritimes DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (FAM) requests DFO Science to undertake an annual assessment of the 4VWX herring management unit in support of the upcoming fishery. A new framework for conducting the annual assessment was initiated in 2006, and work has been conducted to improve many aspects of the assessment. However, the 2010 assessment of the status of 4VWX herring will be conducted using the same modeling approach (Virtual Population Analysis [VPA]) as has been used in previous years. The objectives of the meeting are described below.

Objectives

Review and evaluate biological and fishery information on 4VWX herring stock status for establishing the final quota for 2009/2010 fisheries, as required in the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, including:

• An evaluation of the southwest Nova Scotia / Bay of Fundy spawning component.
• A compilation and review of information regarding the offshore Scotian Shelf spawning component and the coastal Nova Scotia spawning component, including stock affinity of the components.
• Update on southwest New Brunswick migrant juvenile fishery component.
• DFO/Industry collaborative research updates (i.e. target strength, turnover, tagging)

Provide advice on the consequences of different harvest levels during the 2009/2010 fishing year on:

• Stock abundance and biomass. 
• Size and age.
• Exploitation rate.

Evaluate attributes of relevance to conservation objectives and the precautionary approach, including, where available, description of bycatch, possible benthic impacts, and predator/prey interactions.

Determine whether the VPA modeling approach is appropriate for ongoing provision of 4VWX herring management advice or whether alternate modeling approaches should continue to be pursued in the framework assessment.

Outputs

CSAS Science Advisory Report
CSAS Proceedings
CSAS Research Documents  

Participation

DFO Gulf, Quebec and Maritimes Science
DFO Resource Management 
Provincial government (fisheries)
Herring fishing industry
Aboriginal communities
Academics