Questionnaire Report for Haddock

(MERA version 4.1.6)

Abdul Ben-Hasan ()

2019-05-01


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

  1. Describe the history and current status of the fishery, including fleets, sectors, vessel types and practices/gear by vessel type, landing ports, economics/markets, whether targeted/bycatch, other stocks caught in the fishery. (from assessment report: file:///C:/Users/abenh/Desktop/Faroe%20Islands%20haddock%20-%20SA%20report%2014.12.2016%20Final.pdf) “The fishery is a mixed cod-haddock and saithe fishery where cod is the most important species. The fishery takes place both in the Norwegian, the Svalbard as well as in the Russian fishing zones of the Barents Sea. The dominating gears are bottom trawl (68%) and long line (12 %) the remaining 20% is taken by a mixture of gears including gill nets, jiggings a.o., ICES (2016) . Recent catches are slightly below 200 kt, Figure 2. Management is based on a management plan agreed between Norway and Russia in the Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission (JNRFC) and implemented in Norwegian and Russian legislation. The haddock stock as is the cod stocks are at very high level. Haddock is subject to annual analytical age-based assessments with appropriate biological reference points being set, and are subject to an internationally agreed management plan and harvest control rule. Reference points have been defined and tested by ICES; ICES considers both the plans and the control rules to be consistent with both the precautionary and MSY-framework approaches. The spawning stock biomass of haddock is currently above biological reference levels and ICES considers the haddock stock to retain full reproductive capacity (ICES, 2016).”

  2. Describe the stock’s ecosystem functions, dependencies, and habitat types. (from https://www.fishbase.se/TrophicEco/EcosysRef.php?ecosysname=Faroe+Plateau&ve_code=228) “The relatively broad shelf surrounding the Faeroe Islands in the northeast Atlantic Ocean comprises the Faeroe Plateau LME. The islands and their shelf are affected by a branch of the North Atlantic Drift current, which flows north through this area. Commercial stocks inhabiting this LME include cod, herring, and capelin; the area also serves as important feeding grounds for pilot whales and other marine mammals.”

  3. Provide all relevant reference materials, such as assessments, research, and other analysis. Assessment report: file:///C:/Users/abenh/Desktop/Faroe%20Islands%20haddock%20-%20SA%20report%2014.12.2016%20Final.pdf FishBase: https://www.fishbase.se Assessment report: http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2017/NWWG/07-NWWG%20Report%202017%20Sec%2005%20Faroe%20haddock.pdf Paper: https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/64/4/730/642865 Report: http://cdn.lms.fo/media/3541/fo_fisheries_and_aquaculture_final_revised.pdf Assessment report: http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2018/Special_requests/neafc.2018.31b.pdf


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
According to the catch at age tables 5.4-5.6 provided in the assessment report: http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2017/NWWG/07-NWWG%20Report%202017%20Sec%2005%20Faroe%20haddock.pdf

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
Although no informaiton on stock depletion, the assessment study reports that the current biomass is above the “precautionary biomass below which spawning stock biomass should not beallowed to fall to safeguard it against falling to Blim.” (from file:///C:/Users/abenh/Desktop/Faroe%20Islands%20haddock%20-%20SA%20report%2014.12.2016%20Final.pdf)

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 about steepness was provided in the assessment reports.

3.4 Historical effort pattern

Answered
Stable
Two-phase
Boom-bust
Gradual increases
Stable, recent increases
Stable, recent declines
Justification
Figure 2b in the paper: https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/64/4/730/642865

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
Figure 2b in the paper: https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/64/4/730/642865

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
(from paper: https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/64/4/730/642865) table 3 shows that longliners, which accounts for about 75% of haddock catches in the Faroe Islands, show a decreasing catchability over the period 1997-2001.

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
Highly uncertain (see the paper: https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/64/4/730/642865)

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
FishBase has a length at maturity of 46 cm and asymptotic length is 63 cm for the haddock stock in the Faroe Islands (http://www.fishbase.org/popdyn/PopGrowthList.php?ID=1381&GenusName=Melanogrammus&SpeciesName=aeglefinus&fc=183)

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
Catch at age numbers for the year 2017 roughly indicate that age 3 is the length at 50% selectivity. Plugging that age into von Bertalanffy growth equation (and omitting asymptotic length term from the equation), I get the answer chose above (Table 5.4 in assessment report: http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2018/NWWG/01%20NWWG%20Report%202018.pdf). von Bertalanffy parameters for haddock were obtained from FishBase.

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
No information was found to determine a sensible range of the selectivity for large fish

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
(from assessment report: http://ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2017/WKFAROE/WKFAROE%20Report%202017.pdf) “There were no issues with the catch figures or the assumption that discards were very limited”

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 assessment report: http://ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2017/WKFAROE/WKFAROE%20Report%202017.pdf) “There were no issues with the catch figures or the assumption that discards were very limited”

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
No information was found to determine a sensible range of recruitment variability

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
The assessment report indicates “60% of the Faroe Plateau at depths of less than 200 m is closed to trawling for most of the year. Most of the Faroe Bank is permanently closed to trawling.” (http://cdn.lms.fo/media/3541/fo_fisheries_and_aquaculture_final_revised.pdf). Also, closed areas for longline fishery, but the assessment report doesn’t specify a percentage (http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2018/NWWG/01%20NWWG%20Report%202018.pdf). It should be noted that longline fishery obtained 75% of the haddock catch in Faroe Islands, not trawling.

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
There is uncertainty regarding the movement of this stock.

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
Unspecified by the assessment reports.


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. Describe what, if any, current management measures are used to constrain catch/effort.
(from assessment report: http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2018/NWWG/01%20NWWG%20Report%202018.pdf) “the fishery for haddock in 5.b is regulated
through a maximum number of allocated fishing days, gear specifications, closed areas
during spawning times, closed areas for longlining close to land and large areas closed
to trawling. As a consequence, around 80% of the haddock landings derive from long
line fisheries. Since the minimum mesh size in the trawls (codend) is 145 mm, the trawl
catches consist of fewer small fish than the long line fisheries.”

2. Describe historical management measures, if any.
(from assessment report: http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2018/NWWG/01%20NWWG%20Report%202018.pdf) “Up to 1959, all vessels were allowed to fish around the Faroes outside the 3 nm zone.
During the 1960s, the fisheries zone was gradually expanded, and in 1977 an EEZ of
200 nm was introduced in the Faroe area. The demersal fishery by foreign nations has
since decreased and Faroese vessels now take most of the catches. The fishery may be
considered a multifleet and multispecies fishery as described below.”

3. Describe main strengths and weaknesses of current monitoring and enforcement capacity.
No information indicated in the assessment reports about monitoring and enforcement.

4. Describe and reference any legal/policy requirements for management, monitoring and enforcement.
No information indicated in the assessment reports


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
No TAC imposed.


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
TAE for Faroe haddock seems within the target TAE.


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
There is high uncertainty in the variability of TAE implementation (see paper: https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/64/4/730/642865)


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
No information provided regarding size limit offset.


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
No justification was provided


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.
Assessment report (http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2017/NWWG/07-NWWG%20Report%202017%20Sec%2005%20Faroe%20haddock.pdf) catch series (Fig 5.1,page 110) and cpue (5.7 and 5.8, pages 113 and 114).

2. Describe how these data collected (e.g., log books, dealer reporting, observers).
Mainly log books (assessment report: http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2018/NWWG/01%20NWWG%20Report%202018.pdf).

3. Describe what types of sampling programs and methodologies exist for data collection, including the time-series of available sampling data and quality.
(from assessment: http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2017/NWWG/07-NWWG%20Report%202017%20Sec%2005%20Faroe%20haddock.pdf) “Two annual groundfish surveys are available, one carried out in February-March since 1982 (100 stations per year down to 500 m depth), and the other in August-September since 1996 (200 stations per year down to 500 m depth)”

4. Describe all sources of uncertainty in the status, biology, life history and data sources of the fishery. Include links to documentation, reports.
(from assessment: http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2017/NWWG/07-NWWG%20Report%202017%20Sec%2005%20Faroe%20haddock.pdf) “Retrospective analyses indicate periods with tendencies to overestimate spawning stock biomass and underestimate fishing mortality and vice versa. Similar things can be seen with the recruitment. The sampling of the catches for length measurements, otolith readings and length-weight relationships has increased somewhat compared to 2015. Although it is regarded to be adequate for the assessment, there is a need to improve it again”


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 report indicates accurate catch reporting.


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
Assessment report do not assume a power function for the catchabilities; but because catchability is very difficult to estimate with certainty, I selected the above three conditions.


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 so that it can be fixed!





shiny-2019-05-01-19:56:24

Open Source, GPL-2 2019