Status of the Anarhichas lupus, A. minor, and A. denticulatus in the Canadian Atlantic and Arctic Regions

Abstract

This document provides the latest assessment on the status of Northern Wolffish, Atlantic Wolffish, and Spotted Wolffish stocks that inhabit the Canadian Atlantic and Arctic Regions. There was a noticeable increase in the indices of stock size since the mid–2000s in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Region, as well Atlantic Wolffish and Spotted Wolffish in the Quebec Region, but only Spotted Wolffish in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions (Div.) 2J3K continued to experience some level of recovery in most recent periods, including a northward expansion in range into Div. 2H during the last decade. However, since the last assessment in 2014, population status for all three wolffish species throughout Canadian Atlantic and Arctic waters remains largely unchanged and has shown little recovery. Most wolffish interactions with commercial fisheries occurred in the areas where the stocks are centered, primarily along the slopes of the continental shelf and deep channels, and to a lesser extent over the southern Grand Bank and the remaining portions of the study area. Mobile fleets were responsible for the majority of wolffish removals in NL and Maritimes Regions prior to 2003, as well in the Arctic Region (2000–21), whereas fixed gear fleets accounted for most wolffish removals in the Quebec and Gulf Regions.