Terms of Reference

Eastern Scotian Shelf Shrimp Framework

Regional Peer Review – Maritimes Region

April 14-15, 2015
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Thomas Wheaton

Context

The Northern or Pink Shrimp, Pandalus borealis, is the only shrimp species of commercial importance in the DFO Maritimes Region. The fishery consists of 28 DFO Maritimes Region-based licenses (fished by 9 vessels in 2014), mostly <65’ length overall (LOA), and 14 DFO Gulf Region-based licenses (fished by 5 vessels in 2014) 65-100’ LOA. All mobile licenses have been under Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) since 1998. A competitive trap fishery with 14 licenses (7 active in 2014) is largely restricted to Chedabucto Bay. The fishery operates under an “evergreen” management plan, which documents sharing agreements between fleet sectors. The status of Eastern Scotian Shelf shrimp was last assessed by DFO Science on November 27, 2014 (DFO 2015). This meeting will review the framework used to assess the Eastern Scotian Shelf shrimp.

Objectives

• Review the assessment framework and identify if alternative approaches to assessing the fishery can be identified:
• review the Traffic Light Analysis and biological basis for considering each index to be relevant to the shrimp stock;
• review alternate approaches to summarizing Traffic Light data that provides advice more directly related to Harvest Control Rules;
• review alternate assessment models, such as a biomass dynamic model.
• Identify how advice is to be provided in interim years versus full advice assessment years.
• Update descriptive information related to the fishery, the survey, biology, and ecosystem interactions of the target species.
• Evaluate bycatch of non-target species in observed trips in the shrimp fishery.

 Expected Publications

• Proceedings
• Research Document

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science and Resource Management
• Province of Nova Scotia and Province of New Brunswick
• Aboriginal communities/organizations
• Fishing Industry  

References

DFO. 2015.  Assessment of Northern Shrimp on the Eastern Scotian Shelf (SFAs 13-15). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2015/004.