The

Greenland halibut shery in NAFO Subarea 0 from 1996 to 2011

Anna Olafsdo+r George Rose
Centre for Fisheries Ecosystem Research, Memorial University Prepared for: ArcAc Fishery Alliance Oceans North Canada

Greenland halibut most valuable Canadian ground sh species in NW AtlanAc

Outline Total Allowable Catch (TAC) has double in the last decade despite minimal biological knowledge on stock
Background: biology of Greenland halibut the shery in Subarea 0 Analysis: catch length frequency data sh size by gear type yield-per-length number of individual sh for a ton caught RecommendaAons: more reserach needed slot-length approach to harvesAng should be considered, reducing shing of length <45cm and >80cm Small Fish Protocol (<45cm) enforced

Limited knowledge on biology of Greenland halibut in 0A and 0B Age Growth rate Size at maturity Spawning stock biomass Fishing mortality

Background: biology

? X

Yield-per-recruit Biological reference points Fishing sustainability Risk assessment on current TAC

TAC and catch in Subarea 0 doubled between 2000 and 2011

Background: shery

Available catch length frequency data from the shery

Analysis: at-sea observer data

In 0A trawl: length of sh has declined since 2006

Analysis: length frequency

In 0B trawl: length of sh has increased since 2006

Analysis: length frequency

Gillnets: limited changes in sh length since shery began

Analysis: length frequency

Trawls ocen violate Small Fish Protocol (max 15% < 45cm)

violaAon

15%

Analysis: Small Fish Protocol

Gillnets catch larger sh than do trawls

Analysis: sh length

Sustainable shery is balancing birth and death

reproducAon growth

X
stock biomass
shing mortality natural mortality

Yield can be esAmated

Yield-per-length models:

1) calculate yield per individual assuming specic shing mortality

2) esAmate at what length shing should start for maximum yield

sheries science

Gillnets uAlize sh growth potenAal befer by catching larger sh

F = shing mortality Z = total mortality

Analysis: yield-per-length

Fishing mortality aects yield-per-length

F = shing mortality Z = total mortality

Analysis: yield-per-length

Trawls catch twice as many number of sh for a ton caught than do gillnets

Analysis: number per ton

Annually trawls catch 3-4 million sh and gillnets 1-1.5 million in Division 0A

Analysis: number per ton

Summary: apply precauAonary approach unAl more biological informaAon on stock are available Conclusions:

1) Research needed to establish sustainability of shery and biological reference points 2) Small versus large sh? Immature versus mature sh?

RecommendaAons:
1) more research 2) consider slot-length approach to harvesAng, reducing shing of lenght <45cm and >80cm

All 13 years

3) enforce the small sh protocol (<45cm)