Trends in Pacific Canadian groundfish stock status

Abstract

AbstractWe assembled estimated biomass (B) time series from stock assessments for 24 Pacific Canadian groundfish stocks and modelled average and stock status through 2020 based on biomass relative to each stock’s (1) Limit Reference Point (B/LRP), (2) Upper Stock Reference (B/USR), and (3) biomass at maximum sustainable yield (B/BMSY). The overall mean B/LRP in 2020 was 3.2 (95% credible interval [CI]: 2.6–3.9). The overall mean B/USR and B/BMSY in 2020 was 1.5 (95% CI: 1.3–1.9) and 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1–1.7), respectively. Average stock status declined from 1950 to around 2000 and has remained relatively stable since then. The change around 2000 followed the implementation of ITQs (individual transferable quotas) for the trawl fleet and the commencement of the synoptic trawl surveys. As of their last assessment, four stocks (Strait of Georgia Lingcod [Area 4B], coastwide Bocaccio, and inside and outside Quillback Rockfish) had a greater than 5% probability of being below their LRP (i.e., in the “ critical zone”); Pacific Cod in Area 3CD had a 4.6% probability. Roughly one-third of stocks had a greater than 1 in 4 chance of being below their USR (i.e., in the “ cautious zone”). Conversely, two-thirds of assessed groundfish stocks had a high (>75%) probability of being above the USR (i.e., in the “ healthy zone”).