Terms of Reference

Western Component Pollock Management Strategy Evaluation Review – Part 3: Operating Models and Reference Points

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

October 18–20, 2022
Dartmouth, NS and Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Tara McIntyre

Context

Pollock (Pollachius virens) in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions 4VWX5 comprise two population components: a slower-growing Eastern Component including Divisions 4V and 4W, as well as Subdivisions 4Xm and 4Xn, and a faster-growing Western Component (WC) including 4Xopqrs and Canadian portions of Division 5. The WC has been the main focus of past analytical assessments, but scientific advice on stock status and catch limits using Virtual Population Analysis (VPA) modeling became highly variable in the mid-2000s (Stone 2011).

In 2011, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fisheries managers and the fishing industry decided to manage Western Component (WC) Pollock using a risk-management approach and embarked on a Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) process, with the help of government scientists and outside experts (DFO 2011). The MSE was intended to undergo review in 2016, but DFO resource limitations and the inception of an acoustic index resulted in a deferral of that review until 2021. This meeting is the third in a series of meetings to review the MSE, and is expected to address the Simulations and Reference Points step in the revision of the WC Pollock MSE.

Objectives

The objectives of this meeting are to:

• Finalize the set-up of the Reference and Sensitivity sets of Operating Models.
• Review and finalize the Reference Points (Limit Reference Point, Upper Reference Point, Removal Reference) for the stock.
• Review and finalize the format of the final scorecard for the candidate Management Procedures, including the evaluation metrics and the required plots/tables.
• Discuss Exceptional Circumstances as triggers for various levels of review in the future, and formalize the assessment schedule of WC Pollock.
• Discuss options for providing advice for the 4Xmn (Eastern Component Pollock) portion of the Western Component Management Unit.

Expected Publications

• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fisheries Management
• Provincial government representatives
• Indigenous communities/organizations
• Fishing Industry
• Non-government organizations

References

• DFO. 2011. Western Component (4Xopqrs5) Pollock Management Strategy Evaluation. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2011/054.
• Stone, H.H. 2011. 2010 Pollock Assessment Update for the Western Component 4Xopqrs5; pp. 21–96. In: J.M. Porter and V. Docherty, Chairpersons. Proceedings of 4X5 Pollock Management Strategy Evaluation Workshop – 2010. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2945.