Terms of Reference

Assessment of Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence Northern Shrimp Stocks

Regional Advisory Meeting - Quebec Region

January 27-28, 2022
Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Stéphane Plourde

Context

The Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence are divided in four shrimp fishing areas (SFA): Estuary (SFA 12), Sept-Iles (SFA 10), Anticosti (SFA 9) and Esquiman (SFA 8). Shrimp fishing is regulated by a number of management measures, including the setting of total allowable catches (TAC) in the four areas.

The key elements for the establishment of a precautionary approach (PA) were adopted in 2012. Reference points were determined and guidelines have been established to determine harvest based on the stock status main indicator and its position relative to healthy, cautious and critical zone classification.

Objectives

Provide scientific advice for the management of Northern Shrimp stocks in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (SFA 8, 9, 10 and 12) for the 2022 and 2023 fishing seasons. This advice shall include:

• Description of the biology of Gulf of St. Lawrence Northern shrimp and its distribution
• A review of population structure and responses to temperature changes of Pandalus borealisin the western Atlantic. The impact of these results for Gulf shrimp will also be discussed.
• A summary of oceanographic and ecosystem conditions in the Gulf
• Analysis of commercial fishery data including landings, effort, catch per unit of effort and data from the commercial sampling program;
• Data analysis of the DFO research surveys in August in the estuary and northern Gulf.
• Update of the main stocks status indicator.
• A recommendation on harvest according to PA guidelines for the 2022 and 2023 fishing seasons.
• Comment the outlook for stock abundance.
• Estimate by-catches during the directed fishery on Northern Shrimp.
• Identification and prioritization of research projects to be considered for the future.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research document(s)
• Proceedings

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science, and Ecosystems and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Fishing industry
• Provincial representatives
• Aboriginal Communities / Organizations