Terms of Reference

Update of indices of abundance to 2020 for Atlantic Cod (NAFO Div. 4T and 4Vn (November to April)) and American Plaice (NAFO Div. 4T) assessed and managed by DFO Gulf Region

Regional Science Response Process – Gulf Region

February 16, 2021
Virtual meeting

Chairperson: Amélie Rondeau

Context

Full peer-reviewed stock assessments of groundfish species in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence are now mostly conducted on a multi-year cycle with monitoring continuing on an annual basis.

For Atlantic cod, following on the advice of DFO (2016a), and as identified in the peer reviewed stock assessment (DFO 2019a), an update of indicators of stock status was to be scheduled near the end of the year 2020, which is mid-way in the four-year assessment and fisheries management cycle.

For American plaice, the last published advice suggested that a full assessment should be conducted in early 2021 (DFO 2016b). We note, however, that an interim update of indicators for American Plaice was completed in 2019 (DFO 2019b), and importantly, the species is currently under evaluation by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). As such an update of indicators will be completed in 2021, rather than a full assessment.

Objectives

The objectives of the meeting are to review the indicators of abundance to 2020, based on species-specific assessments. For each species, assess if the agreed indicator has exceeded the species-specific threshold value, which would recommend a full assessment earlier than the prescribed multi-year assessment cycle. The following two species of groundfish in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence will be assessed:

• Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) NAFO Div. 4T and 4Vn (November to April) (DFO 2019).
• American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) NAFO Div. 4T (DFO 2016b).

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, and Ecosystems and Fisheries Management sectors)

References

• DFO. 2016a. Guidelines for providing interim-year updates and science advice for multi-year assessments. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2016/020.
• DFO. 2016b. Stock assessment of American Plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Div. 4T) to 2015. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2016/031.
• DFO. 2019a. Assessment of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Div. 4T-4VN (Nov. – April)) to 2018. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2019/021.
• DFO. 2019b. Updated indices of abundance to 2018 for American Plaice and Yellowtail Flounder from NAFO Div. 4T. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2019/006.