Review of the Precautionary Approach and Assessment of Northern Shrimp Stocks in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2023

Abstract

The review of the Precautionary Approach (PA) of northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) stocks in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) began in 2020-2021. A working group, made up of representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO, Science and Fisheries Management [FM] sectors), industry, provincial governments of Quebec and the Atlantic provinces as well as indigenous groups, was created in spring 2021 to develop a PA proposal. This proposal was to include limit, upper and target reference points (LRP, USR and TRP), as well as scenarios of harvest control rules (HCR). In parallel, a review of stock assessment units and a new assessment model were completed on June 28, 2023 during a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) meeting held in Mont-Joli (Smith and Bourdages 2023, In press, Bourdages et al. 2023). The development of the present PA is based on this work. The FM Branch asked DFO Science to determine the PA compliance of the proposed reference points and decision rules. In addition, FM requested a recommendation for the management of these stocks for the 2024 fishing season based on this new PA. This Science Response results from the regional peer review of October 25, 2023 on the review of the precautionary approach and projected harvest level options for northern shrimp stocks in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.