Development of the Precautionary Approach for the Iceland Scallop Stock in Area 16F on the North Shore of Quebec

Abstract

The Iceland scallop stocks in areas 16E and 16F were identified as a priority for a rebuilding plan in response to Recommendation 2.63 of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development in her 2016 audit report, “Sustaining Canada’s Major Fish Stocks— Fisheries and Oceans Canada.” DFO has committed to setting targets and timelines for the establishment of precautionary approach harvest control rules for the major stocks under its management control, where harvest control rules do not exist. Scallop stocks in areas 16E and 16F are also included in the second batch of stocks being proposed for the Fish Stocks provisions of the Fisheries Act. Under these provisions, DFO is required to maintain major fish stocks at levels necessary to promote sustainability of the stock and to develop and implement rebuilding plans for stocks that have declined below their limit reference point (LRP). At the request of the Fisheries Management Branch, an LRP was proposed and approved for Area 16E in the March 2023 scallop stock assessment. An LRP for Area 16F should also be proposed and approved, given the uncertain status of the stock, the decline in catch per unit effort (CPUE) in recent years and other indicators suggesting that this stock is overfished. This Science Response Report results from the regional peer review of March 27, 2024 on Development of a Precautionary Approach for Scallop Stocks in Area 16F on Quebec’s North Shore.