Évaluation des stocks de buccin (Buccinum undatum) des eaux côtières du Québec en 2024

Abstract

Status The average catch per unit of effort (CPUE) for 2022–2024 is below the historical average (2002–2021) in Areas 1 (-24%), 2 (-40%), 3 (-54%), 4 (-16%), 5 (-29%), 6 (-34%) and 8 (La Romaine: -49% and Blanc-Sablon: -25%) on the North Shore; in Areas 12 (-60%) and 13 (-50%) in the Gaspé Peninsula–Lower St. Lawrence; and in Area 15 (-28%) in the Magdalen Islands. Stock status is uncertain in Areas 10 and 14, where there is no fishing, and in Areas 7, 9 and 11, where fishing effort is sporadic and low. Trends The CPUE trend has been downward for at least six years in all fishing areas in Quebec. The densities of legal-size whelk and recruits observed during the biennial research survey conducted in 2024 in Areas 1 and 2 on the Upper North Shore are lower than those of the 2022 survey and are among the lowest values in the historical series (2005–2024). Ecosystem and Climate Change Considerations The seabed of fishing sites in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, mostly in the 10–30 m range, are experiencing an increase in water temperature and in the abundance of crustacean predators such as lobster and rock crab. However, these ecosystem changes and their effects on whelk stock productivity have not been quantified. Stock Advice The status of exploited stocks is worrying. These stocks do not appear to be able to sustain the fishing effort of recent years, and TACs should be adjusted accordingly. The very low abundance of recruits observed since 2017 in research surveys in Areas 1 and 2 on the Upper North Shore poses a risk to stock sustainability in the coming years. Because whelk populations are susceptible to local depletion, the breeding season should be protected. This could be achieved by establishing refuge areas within each fishing area or by implementing other strategies to protect the resource. Other Management Questions As indicated in the 2022 Science Advisory Report, management measures should be adjusted in Areas 4 and 5 to better align with the T50 (90 mm) to ensure the sustainability of the resource.