Arctic Surfclam - Grand Bank

Date of season

1 January to 31 December

Total Allowable Catch

14,756 tonnes for Grand Bank.

The Surfclam catch limit was set by application of a harvest control rule, in which a fishing mortality (F) target of Maximum Constant Yield (MCY) is estimated to be one-third of the natural mortality. This results in a permitted annual harvest of 2.64% of the biomass. The F target is applied to the most recent biomass estimate of Surfclam in densities greater than 75 g/m2.

Currently, 49% of the total biomass of 1.14 million tonnes of Surfclams was found in densities greater than 75 g/m2. Applying the 2.64% rule to this amount results in a catch limit of 14,756 tonnes.

Management Measures

  • Bycatch
    • Co-occurring molluscan shellfish species may be harvested as an incidental bycatch
    • Quahogs are restricted to 10% to a maximum of 500 tonnes
    • The licence holder/operator is required to provide information regarding interactions with any SARA species in the SARA monitoring document available from DFO
  • Conversion Factors
    • A conversion factor of 6.51 (blanched) and 5.37 (raw) applies
  • Monitoring and Reporting
    • Catch must be reported through log books and 100% dockside monitoring.
    • 100% Vessel Monitoring System coverage is required

Links to other information

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/SAR-AS/2010/2010_063-eng.html