While the total allowable catch (TAC) remains unchanged for Atlantic halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO area 4RST) for the 2022/23 season, the TAC for Greenland halibut has increased by 19 per cent.
A TAC of 2,400 tonnes has been established for 4RST Greenland halibut, up from 2,025 tonnes for a one-year period starting May 15, while the Atlantic halibut TAC has been set at 1,716 tonnes.
The increase in Greenland halibut quota “is consistent with the precautionary approach framework that was recently approved for this stock in March 2022,” says the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
As of early June, the Greenland halibut fishery in 4RST has been impacted by one North Atlantic right whale closure, said DFO spokesman Barre Campbell.
“The affected fishing areas, located east of Gaspé, Québec, could re-open within the next couple of days, if we can confirm that there are no right whales in the area. Two flights with no sightings of North Atlantic right whales are required before areas are re-opened and so far, weather conditions have only allowed for one flight over the area.”
However, the Atlantic halibut fishery has not been impacted by North Atlantic right whale closures this year.
According to DFO statistics, in 2021 there were 1,371 tonnes landed in the 4RST Atlantic halibut fishery, valued at $16,770,438. In 2020, with a TAC of 1,492 tonnes, landings weighed in at 1,391 tonnes, worth $11,332,227. In 2019 with the same TAC, 1,384 tonnes were landed, valued at $13,120,541.
In 2021, there were 1,391 tonnes landed in the 4RST Greenland halibut, with a landed value of $11,332,227. In 2020 with a TAC of 2,250 tonnes, landings came in at 1,457 tonnes worth $6,008,667. In 2019 with a 3,375 tonne TAC, landings were 1,895 tonnes valued at $7,144,796.
The latest stock status indicators for Greenland halibut in 4RST “shows that the stock is at the top of the cautious zone,” says DFO science. “The unfavorable environmental conditions for Greenland halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence did not improve in 2021. The deep waters have continued to warm and oxygen saturation is at its lowest level observed in the St. Lawrence estuary. In addition, recruitment indices were well below average in 2020 and 2021.”
The next full assessment of this stock is planned for winter 2023.
For 4RST Atlantic halibut, “there is moderate evidence and high consistency among sources of evidence that the status of the stock is currently at a historically high level,” reads the 2020 stock assessment summary.
“There is robust evidence and high consistency among sources of evidence that recruitment to the fishery remains high. There is limited evidence and high consistency among sources of evidence that the exploitation rate has generally remained below the rate of biomass increase during the last 10 years, which would explain the increase in biomass of halibut over 85 cm.”
Atlantic halibut landings in 4RST have been increasing since the early 2000s and have reached the highest values since 1960, says the report.
“The size of landed halibut is increasing and the average weight of a landed halibut has doubled between 2006 and 2020.”
A 60-tonne allocation from this year’s 4RST Atlantic halibut TAC has been set aside to support the industry/DFO longline survey and tagging project. The remaining quota (1,656 t) is distributed based on a sharing formula announced in 2016 to fixed and mobile gear fleets throughout Atlantic Canada, Québec and the Magdalen Islands.
The 2022–23 initial allocations per fleet (calculated before quota reconciliation or carry forward of previously uncaught quota where applicable) are as follows:
- Eastern New Brunswick: 111.11 tonnes
- Gulf Nova Scotia: 74.63 tonnes
- Gulf Prince Edward Island: 68.28 tonnes
- Western Newfoundland: 421.20 tonnes
- Québec North Shore: 146.55 tonnes
- Gaspésie: 559.74 tonnes
- Magdalen Islands: 114.23 tonnes
- Scotia Fundy: 70.24 tonnes
- Mobile Gear less than 19.81 m: 14.55 tonnes
- Fixed Gear 19.81 m to 30.48 m: 56.78 tonnes
- Mobile Gear 19.81 m to 30.48 m: 4.26 tonnes
- Vessels greater than 30.48 m: 14.55 tonnes
- Scientific survey: 60 tonnes
