Development of a precautionary approach for the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Greenland halibut stock

Abstract

Since 2006, Canada has made national and international commitments to apply the precautionary approach (PA) in fisheries decision-making (DFO 2006). In recent years, Canada has taken several initiatives to define and establish benchmarks under the precautionary approach in the context of fisheries and incorporate them into fisheries management. Following recommendations made by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD 2016), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) committed to developing and implementing a precautionary approach for the sustainable management of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization [NAFO] Divisions 4RST). Greenland halibut in the GSL is a stock for which a precautionary approach is under development. A stock status indicator and limit reference point have been established since February 2017 (DFO 2018). A working group, comprised of representatives from DFO (Science and Fisheries Management), the industry, the provincial governments of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, and Aboriginal groups, was created in the fall of 2018 to develop a precautionary approach proposal. Objectives relating to the management of this stock, a target reference and upper stock reference points have been agreed on by the working group in 2020 (DFO 2021). The working group also considered the development of decision rules (hereinafter referred to as harvest control rules; HCR) and developed three HCR proposals. The Resource Management, Aquaculture and Aboriginal Affairs Directorate (hereafter referred to as Fisheries Management) has requested a Science Advice from the Regional Science Branch to determine the compliance of the proposed HCR according to the principles of the precautionary approach and to compare their advantages and disadvantages. This Science Response stems from the Regional Science Response process of November 15, 2021 on the Development of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Greenland Halibut Precautionary Approach (4RST).