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Assessment of Redfish in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subarea 0, and Subarea 2 + Division 3K

Zonal Advisory Meeting – Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), and Ontario and Prairie and Arctic (O&P/Arctic) Regions

May 4–7, 2021
Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Christina Bourne

Context

Three species of Redfish are present in the Northwest Atlantic; Deepwater Redfish (Sebastes mentella), Acadian Redfish (Sebastes fasciatus) and Golden Redfish (Sebastes marinus). Deepwater and Acadian Redfish are practically impossible to distinguish by their external appearance and therefore are combined with Golden Redfishand managed as a stock complex.

The status of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subarea 0 and Subarea 2 + Division 3K Redfish was last fully assessed  on October 19-21, 2016 (DFO 2020). In April 2010, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the Deepwater Redfish/Acadian Redfish complex in Canada (COSEWIC 2010). During the assessment, Deepwater Redfish were divided into two Designatable Units (DUs): Northern population and Gulf of St. Lawrence-Laurentian Channel population. The Northern population is distributed from Baffin Bay south to Grand Banks and corresponds to NAFO Subareas 0+2 and Divisions 3KLNO. COSEWIC designated the Northern DU as Threatened. Acadian Redfish, which is found from the Gulf of Maine to the Labrador Sea, was considered as two DUs: Atlantic population (Threatened) and Bonne Bay population (Special Concern) (COSEWIC 2010).

There is currently no defined Limit Reference Point (LRP) for these stocks. In 2016, the previously established LRP (DFO 2012) and additional LRP options were examined (DFO 2020), however none were considered applicable. In the absence of an LRP it was not possible to identify what zone of the Precautionary Approach (PA) framework this stock was within, and adaptive and cautious management was advised for any reopened fishery. Episodic recruitment, species separation, and other data and model limitations were identified as barriers to LRP development for this stock.

Both Newfoundland and Labrador, and Arctic Region Resource Management Divisions requested the current assessments to provide detailed advice on the status of Redfish stocks, and inform management decisions for the 2021 fishing season.

Objectives

To provide scientific advice on the status of Redfish stocks for NAFO Subareas 0, 2, and Division 3K. Specifically to provide:

  1. Consideration of ecosystem status where the assessed Redfish stock occurs based on an overview including relevant summaries of oceanographic conditions, biological community structure and trends, and pertinent knowledge of ecological interactions (e.g. predator, prey) and stressors (e.g. anthropogenic impacts);
  2. A description of the biology of Redfish and its distribution;
  3. A description of Redfish landings as by-catch in other fisheries;
  4. An update of Redfish abundance and biomass indices, including size structure and geographic distribution of catch for each assessment area using the relevant survey data (e.g., Northern Shrimp Research Foundation (NSRF), DFO research vessel (RV) survey);
  5. An examination of the trend in relative year-class strength of Redfish;
  6. A description of recent Redfish by-catch harvest levels and stock status relative to survey indices; and,
  7. A discussion of the current knowledge gaps, research, and information needs to be collected through the assessment area surveys and/or Redfish by-catch within commercial fisheries to help future assessments and aid the evaluation/establishment of species-specific reference points in the future.

Expected Publications

Expected Participation

References

Notice

Participation to CSAS peer review meetings is by invitation only.

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