Calculation of the calibration factors for witch flounder and squid from the comparative experience between the R/V Cornide de Saavedra and the R/V Vizconde de Eza in Flemish Cap in 2003 and 2004.

EU carries out a stratified random summer bottom trawl survey in Flemish Cap, Division 3M of the NAFO Regulatory Area, since 1988. Since 1991, the survey was made with the R/V Cornide de Saavedra. In 2003, this vessel was replaced for the R/V Vizconde de Eza, so, in order to maintain the series obtained from the old vessel, a two year comparative fishing trial between the two vessels was made in the years 2003 and 2004. This work presents the methods used for the transformation of the series and their results for biomass and length distribution for two species in the area: witch flounder and squid. For both species, the R/V Vizconde de Eza is more efficient that the R/V Cornide de Saavedra for the biomass, with values of FPC equal to 1.7573 in the case of the witch flounder and 1.2792 in the case if the squid. Witch flounder biomass and abundance are very fluctuating, especially since 2003, with the change of vessel, and in general, small individuals are not present during the survey. For squid the biomass and abundance are low except for years 1991, 1992, 2006 and 2008. In 2013 and 2015, no catches were reported during the survey. All the numbers are very poor in general.Postprint0,000

Report of the NAFO Precautionary Approach Working Group (PA-WG)

The meeting was opened by the co-Chairs Fernando González-Costas and Steven Cadrin at 09:00 hours (Atlantic Daylight Time in Halifax, Nova Scotia) on Thursday, 19 May 2022

Quality of the Surveys Information in Relation with the Greenland Halibut Assessment of Subarea 2 and Divisions 3KLMNO

The aim of this paper is to provide a study of the quality of the surveys information in relation with the Greenland halibut assessment of the NAFO Subarea 2 and Divisions 3KLMNO. The surveys abundance correlation within surveys, between surveys and XSA showed that the surveys had many difficulties to track ages older than 6 years. For Flemish Cap survey and Canadian Spring Survey, the problem to track these ages could be principally the depth coverage of the surveys, but for the other surveys this lack of tracking could be due to different reasons as age reading inconsistencies and changes in catchability of these ages in the surveys

Report of the NAFO Joint Commission-Scientific Council Working Group on Risk-Based Management Strategies (WG-RBMS) Meeting

The meeting was opened by the co-Chairs Fernando González-Costas (European Union) and Ray Walsh (Canada) at 09:30 hours (UTC/GMT -3 hours in Halifax, Nova Scotia) on Wednesday, 17 August 2022

Serial No. N7262 NAFO COM-SC Doc. 22-01 Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Report of the NAFO Working Group on Improving Efficiency of NAFO Working Group Process (E-WG) Meeting, 22 February 2022

Report of the NAFO Working Group on Improving Efficiency of NAFO Working Group Process (E-WG) Meeting held by WebEx 22 February 2022Versión del editor

Achieving NAFO Convention Objectives with a Precautionary Approach Framework

The Precautionary Approach Working Group (PA-WG) developed recommendations for designing a Precautionary Approach Framework that is expected to meet the objectives of the NAFO Convention. The objectives and general principles of the NAFO Convention can be achieved by a Precautionary Approach Framework in addition to other NAFO processes to minimize bycatch, catch by lost/abandoned gear, pollution and waste from fishing. The PA-WG recommends that the Precautionary Approach Framework should: 1) promote rebuilding of depleted stocks toward the stock biomass associated with maximum sustainable yield (BMSY), 2) account for scientific uncertainty through buffer reference points or other risk-based approaches, 3) develop limit reference points for stock biomass (Blim) and fishing mortality (Flim) that are consistent with each other, 4) Blim should be based on sustainability and reduced productivity where possible, and 5) reference points should be re-evaluated when the available information on productivity substantially changes, there is evidence of a productivity regime shift, or management procedures based on re-evaluated reference points are demonstrated to perform better for meeting NAFO’s objectives. All options considered for a revised Precautionary Approach Framework should be simulation tested to determine if management measures set in accordance with the framework are expected to achieve the following objectives: a very low risk of stock depletion (i.e., B<Blim), effectively rebuild stocks to BMSY, maintain stocks above BMSY more often than not, and maintain average catches of approximately MSY in the long-term

Report of the Scientific Council Meeting 27 July 2022

Scientific Council reviewed and finalized the working paper drafted by the Precautionary Approach Working Group (PA-WG). The final draft of this working paper, which will be presented to the Precautionary Approach workshop (15-16 August 2022) and WG-RBMS (17-19 August 2022), is attached to this report as Appendix I

Results for capelin from the surveys conducted by Spain in the NAFO Regulatory Area of Div. 3NO, 1995-2015

Since 1995, a stratified random spring bottom trawl survey in the NAFO Regulatory Area of Div. 3NO has been conducted by Spain every year. In 2001, the trawl vessel was replaced in the realization of the survey; a comparative survey between both vessels was made to transform the historical time-series into the new vessel index. The transformed entire series of mean catches and biomass distribution for capelin (Mallotus villosus) are presented for the period 1995-2000, and the no-transformed data for the years 2002-2015. In 2001, there are data from both vessels. The standard deviation is shown for biomass. Biomass fluctuated during all the period, and peaked in 2012.Postprint0,000

Assessment of the Cod Stock in NAFO Division 3M

An assessment of the cod stock in NAFO Division 3M was conducted using a Bayesian SCAA (statistical catch-at-age) model. The STACFIS catch estimates and the Flemish Cap survey indices were used to fit the model. Blim, defined as the SSB of 2007, was estimated at 15 037 t (median). Results indicate a general increase in SSB since 2005 to the highest value in 2017, decreasing since then. SSB has been above Blim since 2008. Between 2013 and 2018 recruitment was at very low levels; the 2016 and 2018 values were among the lowest of the series; as a consequence, 3-year projections indicate that total biomass will decrease during the projected years, while the SSB could increase under some scenarios in the final projected year. The probability of SSB being below Blim is low high (<10%) in all the scenarios. An increase in recruitment occurred since 2019, reaching in 2021 the 2014 level.Versión del editor

Effect in survey indices of removing stations in the NAFO closed Areas in the design of the EU surveys including the 2021 closed areas

In 2009, the Fisheries Commission established several coral and sponges protection closures areas to bottom fisheries within the NAFO Regulatory Area that started to be applied in 2010. Three random bottom trawl surveys are performed by the EU yearly in the NAFO Regulatory Area: Spanish Div. 3NO (Spring), Spanish and Portuguese in Div. 3M (Summer) and Spanish Div. 3L (Summer). The surveys are currently carried out by the R/V Vizconde de Eza and covers the closed areas. A study of the survey indices of the species assessed in NAFO (except shrimp) have been performed to know the impact of removing the hauls in the closed areas from the survey. The results of the analysis show that there are two species, Greenland halibut and roughhead grenadier, in which their biomass and/or age/length indices are affected in all the surveys analyzed. This is due to the fact that these two species are distributed at greater depths and that the closed areas are mainly found in deep areas, so the suppression of survey hauls in closed areas has a greater impact on the indices of these two species. The best way to know the impact in the assessment results of these changes in the Greenland halibut and roughhead grenadier indices would be to run the assessment with both indices, the base case ones and the new case ones, and compare the results. There are other species in which their global biomass indices do not change very much, but their age or length indices change appreciably when hauls from closed areas are removed from the calculations. In one case, the results of the assessment are compromised and it would be better to rerun the assessment with the new case indices to see the differences. In other cases, although the length distribution is not directly used in the assessment models, some recruitment and spawning stock biomass indices are derived from them, so changes in the perception of the stock could be encountered. These changes in the age/length indices should be considered in future assessments of these stocks if the prohibition of the surveys trawls in closed areas is approved. If more close areas are added in the future to the existing ones, this study should be redone, which implies a big amount of work. It is not worth to rerun this study each time the closed areas change.Versión del editor