Questionnaire Report for Atlantic cod
(MERA version 4.1.6)
Abdul Ben-Hasan (abenhasan@gmail.com)
2019-05-02
1 About this document
This is a prototype of an automatic report that documents how the user specified the operating model and their various justifications.
2 Introduction
(from DFO website: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm) “Historically, the 4X5Y Cod stock traditionally supported a significant directed fishery. Currently, as a result of substantial declines in stock biomass and consequent low quota levels, only a very small amount of directed fishing takes place, mainly conducted by the inshore fixed gear fleet using longlines, gillnets and handlines. The majority of Atlantic cod in Divisions 4X5Y are caught as part of a mixed species fishery that includes haddock, pollock, winter flounder, redfish and other species (DFO 2017) (See Table 1 for fleet shares). Several other fisheries catch cod as bycatch in 4X5Y, but may or may not be permitted to land cod (DFO 2011). There are also recreational and Aboriginal food, social and ceremonial components to the 4X5Y cod fishery.”
(from DFO website: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm) “Atlantic cod is a bottom dwelling North Atlantic fish that ranges from Georges Bank to Northern Labrador in the Canadian Atlantic, including the southern Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy management unit (4X5Y) (Figure 1)”.
DFO website: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm.
DFO. 2009. Cod on the Southern Scotian Shelf and in the Bay of Fundy (Div. 4X/5Y). DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/015.
DFO. 2011. Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) for the Southern Designatable Unit (NAFO Divs. 4X5Yb and 5Zjm) of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Advis. Rep. 2011/034.
DFO. 2015. 2014 4X5Yb Atlantic Cod Stock Status Update. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2015/010.
DFO. 2017. 2016 4X5Yb Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) Stock Status Update. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2017/024.
3 Fishery Characteristics
3.1 Longevity
| Answered |
|---|
| Very short-lived (5 < maximum age < 7) |
| Short-lived (7 < maximum age < 10) |
| Moderate life span (10 < maximum age < 20) |
| Moderately long-lived (20 < maximum age < 40) |
| Long-lived (40 < maximum age < 80) |
| Very long-lived (80 < maximum age < 160) |
| Justification |
|---|
| (from DFO website: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm) Based on the natural mortality for all ages. But the website also states: “The 2009 stock assessment, using a virtual population analysis (VPA) model, estimated the natural mortality (M) for Atlantic cod at 0.76 for ages 4+ (from 1996-2008). This value is much higher than the 0.2 estimate historically used for M at all ages for Atlantic cod. Natural mortality may be caused by predation, disease, poor conditions, discards in a recreational or commercial fishery, and/or unreported landings.” |
3.2 Stock depletion
| Answered |
|---|
| Crashed (D < 0.05) |
| Very depleted (0.05 < D < 0.1) |
| Depleted (0.1 < D < 0.15) |
| Moderately depleted (0.15 < D < 0.3) |
| Healthy (0.3 < D < 0.5) |
| Underexploited (0.5 < D) |
| Justification |
|---|
|
Based on the assessment report (https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/40625230.pdf), which states: “The survey biomass index remains at very low level since 2010. The recruitment index for this stock has also remained very low in recent years, with the 2013 value being the second lowest on record.” I did not find an explicit range of the SSB relative to unfished levels for this stock. |
3.3 Resilence
| Answered |
|---|
| Not resilient (steepness < 0.3) |
| Low resilience (0.3 < steepness < 0.5) |
| Moderate resilence (0.5 < steepness < 0.7) |
| Resilient (0.7 < steepness < 0.9) |
| Very Resilient (0.9 < steepness) |
| Justification |
|---|
| No information provided about steepness |
3.4 Historical effort pattern
| Answered |
|---|
| Stable |
| Two-phase |
| Boom-bust |
| Gradual increases |
| Stable, recent increases |
| Stable, recent declines |
| Justification |
|---|
| I did not find any information on the temporal changes of fishing effort for this stock. |
3.5 Inter-annual variability in historical effort
| Answered |
|---|
| Not variable (less than 20% inter-annual change (IAC)) |
| Variable (maximum IAC between 20% to 50%) |
| Highly variable (maximum IAC between 50% and 100%) |
| Justification |
|---|
| No justification was provided |
3.6 Historical fishing efficiency changes
| Answered |
|---|
| Declining by 2-3% pa (halves every 25-35 years) |
| Declining by 1-2% pa (halves every 35-70 years) |
| Stable -1% to 1% pa (may halve/double every 70 years) |
| Increasing by 1-2% pa (doubles every 35-70 years) |
| Increasing by 2-3% pa (doubles every 25-35 years) |
| Justification |
|---|
|
Assessment report (https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/341064.pdf) indicates: " Recent q estimated from the q-change model increase with age and are >1 for most ages and peak at over 2. This would indicate a several fold increase in the catching efficiency of the net. While in the 1980s, fewer than half the cod in the path of the net were caught, now the net catches more cod than are in the path of the net. This would mean a change in behaviour that led cod to be herded into the path of the net, rather than avoiding the net." |
3.7 Future fishing efficiency changes
| Answered |
|---|
| Declining by 2-3% pa (halves every 25-35 years) |
| Declining by 1-2% pa (halves every 35-70 years) |
| Stable -1% to 1% pa (may halve/double every 70 years) |
| Increasing by 1-2% pa (doubles every 35-70 years) |
| Increasing by 2-3% pa (doubles every 25-35 years) |
| Justification |
|---|
| No information was provided about future catchability |
3.8 Length at maturity
| Answered |
|---|
| Very small (0.4 < LM < 0.5) |
| Small (0.5 < LM < 0.6) |
| Moderate (0.6 < LM < 0.7) |
| Moderate to large (0.7 < LM < 0.8) |
| Large (0.8 < LM < 0.9) |
| Justification |
|---|
| Assessment report (https://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr_Atlantic%20Cod_0810_e1.pdf ; page vii) mentions that the average length at maturity for Atlantic cod stock is between 45-55 cm. The mean length at the maximum age recorded for the Western Bay of Fundy stock is 87 cm (source: https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/54/3/383/652476). |
3.9 Selectivity of small fish
| Answered |
|---|
| Very small (0.1 < S < 0.2) |
| Small (0.2 < S < 0.4) |
| Half asymptotic length (0.4 < S < 0.6) |
| Large (0.6 < S < 0.8) |
| Very large (0.8 < S < 0.9) |
| Justification |
|---|
| No information was provided on the selectivity of small fish for this species. |
3.10 Selectivity of large fish
| Answered |
|---|
| Asymptotic selectivity (SL = 1) |
| Declining selectivity with length (0.75 < SL < 1) |
| Dome-shaped selectivity (0.25 < SL < 0.75) |
| Strong dome-shaped selectivity (SL < 0.25) |
| Justification |
|---|
| This fish stock is harvested by different fishing gears, see: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm |
3.11 Discard rate
| Answered |
|---|
| Low (DR < 1%) |
| Low - moderate (1% < DR < 10%) |
| Moderate (10% < DR < 30%) |
| Moderate - high (30% < DR < 50%) |
| High (50% < DR < 70%) |
| Justification |
|---|
| There are no assessments for estimating discard rates of 4X5Y cod. (from http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm) |
3.12 Post-release mortality rate
| Answered |
|---|
| Low (PRM < 5%) |
| Low - moderate (5% < PRM < 25%) |
| Moderate (25% < PRM < 50%) |
| Moderate - high (50% < PRM < 75%) |
| High (75% < PRM < 95%) |
| Almost all die (95% < PRM < 100%) |
| Justification |
|---|
|
(from http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm) “DFO will also ensure that all significant sources of fishing mortality can be estimated and accounted for. For groundfish fisheries, unreported (and illegal) discards would be the main source of unaccounted fishing mortality. DFO will develop a strategy to estimate illegal discards, which might require increasing at-sea observer coverage or exploring other forms of catch monitoring such as electronic video monitoring. For LFAs 33-38, Atlantic cod fishing mortality would need to be estimated based on rates of capture estimated from at-sea sampling and quantification or reliable estimation of post-release survival. In some areas, estimates of mortality as a result of illegal retention may also need to be considered. Once estimates are available, reference points and limits will need to be established for the fishery, and the performance of the fishery will need to be monitored against these.” |
3.13 Recruitment variability
| Answered |
|---|
| Very low (less than 10% inter-annual changes (IAC)) |
| Low (max IAC of between 20% and 60%) |
| Moderate (max IAC of between 60% and 120%) |
| High (max IAC of between 120% and 180%) |
| Very high (max IAC greater than 180%) |
| Justification |
|---|
| Figure 12 page 10 in the assessment report: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/344394.pdf |
3.14 Size of an existing MPA
| Answered |
|---|
| None |
| Small (A < 5%) |
| Small-moderate (5% < A < 10%) |
| Moderate (10% < A < 20%) |
| Large (20% < A < 30%) |
| Very large (30% < A < 40%) |
| Huge (40% < A < 50%) |
| Justification |
|---|
| Only seasonal closures February 1 to June 15 annually. See: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm |
3.15 Spatial mixing (movement) in/out of existing MPA
| Answered |
|---|
| Very low (P < 1%) |
| Low (1% < P < 5%) |
| Moderate (5% < P < 10%) |
| High (10% < P < 20%) |
| Fully mixed |
| Justification |
|---|
| No justification was provided |
3.16 Size of a future potential MPA
| Answered |
|---|
| None |
| Small (A < 5%) |
| Small-moderate (5% < A < 10%) |
| Moderate (10% < A < 20%) |
| Large (20% < A < 30%) |
| Very large (30% < A < 40%) |
| Huge (40% < A < 50%) |
| Justification |
|---|
| No justification was provided |
3.17 Spatial mixing (movement) in/out of future potential MPA
| Answered |
|---|
| Very low (P < 1%) |
| Low (1% < P < 5%) |
| Moderate (5% < P < 10%) |
| High (10% < P < 20%) |
| Fully mixed |
| Justification |
|---|
| No justification was provided |
3.18 Initial stock depletion
| Answered |
|---|
| Very low (0.1 < D1 < 0.15) |
| Low (0.15 < D1 < 0.3) |
| Moderate (0.3 < D < 0.5) |
| High (0.5 < D1) |
| Asymptotic unfished levels (D1 = 1) |
| Justification |
|---|
|
Assessment reports only reported changes in SSB over time: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/336995.pdf https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/40625230.pdf http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/344394.pdf https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/362167.pdf |
4 Management Characteristics
4.1 Types of fishery management that are possible
| Answered |
|---|
| TAC (Total Allowable Catch): a catch limit |
| TAE (Total Allowable Effort): an effort limit |
| Size limit |
| Time-area closures (a marine reserve) |
| Justification |
|---|
|
1. (from website: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm) “The primary control on fishery removals of 4X5Y cod is the TAC. All groundfish landings (directed and bycatch) are counted towards the quota, and no discarding of 4X5Y cod is permitted in groundfish fisheries.” 2. Describe historical management measures, if any. Historical TACs are listed from 1990s onwards. (from website: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm) 3. Describe main strengths and weaknesses of current monitoring and enforcement capacity. Main weakness as stated in http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm : “Observer coverage targets in the groundfish fisheries in 4X5Y are generally 5-10% annually, except 10-20% in the Unit 3 redfish fishery. These targets have not been met in most fisheries in most years, which limits the ability of Fisheries Management to assess the possible extent of discarding in these groundfish fisheries.” 4. Describe and reference any legal/policy requirements for management, monitoring and enforcement. No details provided in http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm. |
4.2 TAC offset: consistent overages/underages
| Answered |
|---|
| Large underages (40% - 70% of recommended) |
| Underages (70% - 90% of recommended) |
| Slight underages (90% - 100% of recommended) |
| Taken exactly (95% - 105% of recommended) |
| Slight overages (100% - 110% of recommended) |
| Overages (110% - 150% of recommended) |
| Large overages (150% - 200% of recommended) |
| Justification |
|---|
| These overages spanned at least over the period 1980-2008. From http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm |
4.3 TAC implementation variability
| Answered |
|---|
| Constant (V < 1%) |
| Not variable (1% < V < 5%) |
| Low variability (5% < V < 10%) |
| Variable (10% < V < 20%) |
| Highly variable (20% < V < 40%) |
| Justification |
|---|
| No justification was provided |
4.4 TAE offset: consistent overages/underages
| Answered |
|---|
| Large underages (40% - 70% of recommended) |
| Underages (70% - 90% of recommended) |
| Slight underages (90% - 100% of recommended) |
| Taken exactly (95% - 105% of recommended) |
| Slight overages (100% - 110% of recommended) |
| Overages (110% - 150% of recommended) |
| Large overages (150% - 200% of recommended) |
| Justification |
|---|
| No TAE implemented on this fishery |
4.5 TAE implementation variability
| Answered |
|---|
| Constant (V < 1%) |
| Not variable (1% < V < 5%) |
| Low variability (5% < V < 10%) |
| Variable (10% < V < 20%) |
| Highly variable (20% < V < 40%) |
| Justification |
|---|
| No TAE implemented on this fishery |
4.6 Size limit offset: consistent overages/underages
| Answered |
|---|
| Much smaller (40% - 70% of recommended) |
| Smaller (70% - 90% of recommended) |
| Slightly smaller (90% - 100% of recommended) |
| Taken exactly (95% - 105% of recommended) |
| Slightly larger (100% - 110% of recommended) |
| Larger (110% - 150% of recommended) |
| Much larger (150% - 200% of recommended) |
| Justification |
|---|
| There is no such information provided in the assessment reports for this species (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm) |
4.7 Size limit implementation variability
| Answered |
|---|
| Constant (V < 1%) |
| Not variable (1% < V < 5%) |
| Low variability (5% < V < 10%) |
| Variable (10% < V < 20%) |
| Highly variable (20% < V < 40%) |
| Justification |
|---|
| here is no such information provided in the assessment reports for this species |
5 Data Characteristics
5.1 Available data types
| Answered |
|---|
| Historical annual catches (from unfished) |
| Recent annual catches (at least 5 recent years) |
| Historical relative abundance index (from unfished) |
| Recent relative abundance index (at least 5 recent years) |
| Fishing effort |
| Size composition (length samples) |
| Age composition (age samples) |
| Growth (growth parameters) |
| Absolute biomass survey |
| Justification |
|---|
|
1. Provide the time series (specify years, if possible) that exist for catch, effort, and CPUE/abundance indices. Catches and abundance index can be found here: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm 2. Describe how these data collected (e.g., log books, dealer reporting, observers). A combination of dockside monitoring of landings, at-sea observer coverage, surveys, and logbooks. 3. Describe what types of sampling programs and methodologies exist for data collection, including the time-series of available sampling data and quality. The research design for groundfish fishery in the north Atlantic is described in (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/groundfish-poisson-fond/groundfish-poisson-fond-4vwx5-eng.htm#toc2) as follows: “DFO has conducted the summer research vessel (RV) survey in the Maritimes Region, NAFO Divisions 4VWX and a small portion of 5Y, using a standardized protocol since 1970. Since 2011, DFO has also been including some coverage of 5Z in the summer RV survey and plans to continue and expand this in the future. The Georges Bank (5Z) Winter RV survey has been conducted annually using a standard stratification since 1987. Results of these surveys provide information on trends in abundance for most groundfish species in the Maritimes Region. Historically, there have sometimes been other RV surveys carried out at different times of year in some areas. The summer RV survey includes both hydrographic sampling and sampling of fish and invertebrates using a bottom otter trawl. These survey data are the primary data source for monitoring trends in species distribution, abundance and biological condition within the region, and also provide data to the Atlantic Zonal Monitoring Program for monitoring hydrographic variability. The summer RV survey was originally planned to provide biomass and abundance trends for groundfish residing at depths from about 50 m to 400 m; it was later extended to cover depths down to 750 m in 1996. Survey indices are expected to be proportional to biomass and abundance for most species. The distribution of some species, however, such as cusk and Turbot, may not be fully covered by the survey. Biomass and abundance trends for these species may only provide indication of direction of change over time. For all these species, other biological information, such as length and weight, are still relevant. The net used in the survey and vessel conducting the survey were changed in 1982 and 1983, along with some changes in data collection protocols. Collection of data on invertebrates caught in the survey was increased in 2007; before that date many invertebrates were not recorded. Conversion factors were derived for some species. For other species, these changes may affect the comparability of biomass trends before and after these changes in an unknown manner.” 4. Describe all sources of uncertainty in the status, biology, life history and data sources of the fishery. Include links to documentation, reports. Major uncertainty sources include seal predation, bycatch and discards (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/ifmp-gmp/cod-morue/cod-morue-2018-eng.htm) |
5.2 Catch reporting bias
| Answered |
|---|
| Strong under-reporting (30% - 50%) |
| Under-reporting (10% - 30%) |
| Slight under-reporting (less than 10%) |
| Reported accurately (+/- 5%) |
| Slight over-reporting (less than 10%) |
| Justification |
|---|
| Assessment reports do not provide such information. |
5.3 Hyperstability in indices
| Answered |
|---|
| Strong hyperdepletion (2 < Beta < 3) |
| Hyperdepletion (1.25 < Beta < 2) |
| Proportional (0.8 < Beta < 1.25) |
| Hyperstability (0.5 < Beta < 0.8) |
| Strong hyperstability (0.33 < Beta < 0.5) |
| Justification |
|---|
| Likely proportional since most of the reports estimated biomass by fitting an assessment model to an index of abundance obtained through scientific surveys. |
5.4 Available data types
| Answered |
|---|
| Perfect |
| Good (accurate and precise) |
| Data moderate (some what inaccurate and imprecise) |
| Data poor (inaccurate and imprecise) |
| Justification |
|---|
| No justification was provided |
6 Version Notes
The package is subject to ongoing testing. If you find a bug or a problem please send a report to t.carruthers@oceans.ubc.ca so that it can be fixed!
shiny-2019-05-02-00:28:09
Open Source, GPL-2 2019