2022 stock status update for capelin in NAFO divisions 2J3KL

Abstract

This Science Response Report results from the March 14–15, 2022 Regional Peer Review on the Stock Status Update of Divisions 2J+3KL Capelin (Mallotus villosus) as requested by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Resource Management. A full Regional Peer Review meeting scheduled for March 8–11, 2022 was cancelled due to reduced spatial coverage in both the Capelin spring acoustic and fall multi-species bottom-trawl surveys in 2021. The resulting data limitations prevented DFO Science from conducting a full assessment of the stock. It was decided that the Centre for Science Advice (CSA), Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Region would instead hold an internal DFO Stock Update. This stock was last fully assessed in 2021 and included fishery-independent and commercial fishery data up to 2020, and a Capelin biomass forecast for the 2021 spring (May) acoustic survey. The basis of this update is new fishery-independent data and catch data from 2021.