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Assessment of Eastern Georges Bank Atlantic Cod for 2017
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2017
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[PDF-3.20 MB]
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Description:The combined 2016 Canada/USA Atlantic cod catches were 537 mt with a quota of 625 mt. Catches in all three research surveys increased since the 2016 assessment. Both fishery and survey catches showed truncated age structure in recent years. The VPA “M 0.8” model from the 2013 benchmark assessment was used to provide catch advice in conjunction with a consequence analysis of the uncertainties in the VPA “M 0.8” and ASAP model results and consideration of an empirical approach. In the VPA “M 0.8” model, natural mortality (M) was assumed to be 0.2 except M=0.8 for ages 6+ since 1994, whereas in the ASAP model M=0.2 for all ages and years. While management measures have resulted in a decreased exploitation rate since 1995, total mortality has remained high and adult biomass has fluctuated at a low level. The adult population biomass at the beginning of 2017 was estimated at 13,944 mt, which was about 25% of the adult biomass in 1978. Fishing mortality was high prior to 1994 (0.33 to 0.51) but was estimated to be 0.05 in 2016. Recruitment at age 1 has been low in recent years. High natural mortality, lower weights at age in the population in recent years and poor recruitment have contributed to the lack of rebuilding.
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Rights Information:Public Domain
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Compliance:Submitted
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