Capelin in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO 4RST) in 2018, 2019 and 2020

Abstract

Capelin landings in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions 4RST) totalled between 8,503, 8,487 and 9,848 t in 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively. For these 3 years, 96% of the TAC was landed in Division 4R, on average. The performance index of the purse seine fishery in 4R increased from 1996 to 2013 and has remained above the historical average since 2008. Small quantities of capelin are regularly caught as by-catch in the shrimp fishery. In 2018 and 2019, these by-catches amounted to 132 t and 88 t, respectively. Not all data from the Esquiman channel region were available at the time of the assessment for the 2020 season. Mean lengths of females and males caught in 4R reached a maximum in 2014, decreased from 2014 to 2017 and were within 1 standard deviation of the overall mean in the last 2 years. The lengths in 4R are similar or slightly higher than in unit area 4Sw, but are greater than those of capelin caught in 4Tn. Relative condition factors for both males and females in 2018-2020 were close to the time series average, and the sex ratio and gonado somatic indices were within the range of interannual variation. No temporal trends were apparent in the fishery dependent biological data, which may have been indicative of fishery induced evolution and/or directional environmental change.