Update of stock status indicators for scallop in subarea 20A in the Magdalen Islands

Abstract

Stock assessment of scallop in Quebec inshore waters is done every three years, with some exceptions, to determine whether recent changes in the status of the resource may justify adjusting the conservation approach and management plan. The last assessment was done in the winter of 2020. In the case of subarea 20A in the Magdalen Islands, decision rules used to calculate annual authorized fishing effort have been in place since 2010 (Trottier et al. 2017). This effort is calculated using the primary stock status indicator (annual average catch per unit effort, or CPUE, from commercial fishermen logbooks) and secondary indicators (sea scallop abundance indices from the most recent Fisheries and Oceans Canada research survey). Because of the change in the vessel used for the 2021 scientific survey and the significant uncertainty concerning the estimated densities of scallops during the survey, it was decided that the historical median of the scientific survey would be used for this update. The mean, in contrast to the median, is more influenced by extreme values. The annual average CPUE was updated after the 2021 fishing season to provide Fisheries Management with information on the fishing effort for the 2022 season according to the precautionary approach guidelines. This Science Response Report results from the Regional Science Response Process of February 15, 2022 on the Updated indicators status of the scallop stocks in Subarea 20A in Magdalen Islands.