Sometimes known as Golden Redfish, Rosefish, Redfish, and Large Redfish

Transcription

1 OCEAN PERCH Sebastes marinus Sometimes known as Golden Redfish, Rosefish, Redfish, and Large Redfish SUMMARY Ocean Perch grows to 50 cm in length and is found and fished throughout the North Atlantic. It is particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure because it is a slow growing, long lived, and reproduces at a late age. Abundance varies slightly between populations in the North Atlantic, but is low overall. Most populations are managed using total allowable catch limits, and in some regions directed fisheries have been prohibited to help rebuild numbers. Ocean Perch are primarily captured with bottom trawls, which cause significant habitat damage and likely result in moderate levels of bycatch. Criterion Points Final Score Color Life History Abundance Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts Management 1.75 Bycatch 1.75 Final Score 1.20 Color

2 LIFE HISTORY Core Points (only one selection allowed) If a value for intrinsic rate of increase ( r ) is known, assign the score below based on this value. If no r-value is available, assign the score below for the correct age at 50% maturity for females if specified, or for the correct value of growth rate ('k'). If no estimates of r, age at 50% maturity, or k are available, assign the score below based on maximum age Intrinsic rate of increase <0.05; OR age at 50% maturity >10 years; OR growth rate <0.15; OR maximum age >30 years. Ocean Perch is in the family Sebastidae, representing the rockfishes. Like many other rockfish, Ocean Perch, is long-lived, slow growing, and late maturing. It may live to 50 years or more, and reach sizes of 46 to 58 cm (ICES 2011a, Saborido-Rey et al. 2004, Stransky et al. 2005). Estimates of growth rate, k, for Ocean Perch in the eastern Atlantic range from k = 0.09 to 0.13 (Stransky et al. 2005, Nedreaas 1990). In the Flemish cap of the western Atlantic, growth rate was estimated to be k = for males and k = for females (Saborido-Rey et al. 2004). Males reach sexual maturity at 8-10 years (31-34 cm) and females at years (35-37 cm) (Jonsson and Palsson 2006). These life history characteristic make Ocean Perch extremely vulnerable to fishing pressure, and therefore a score of 1 is awarded Intrinsic rate of increase = ; OR age at 50% maturity = 5-10 years; OR a growth rate = ; OR maximum age = years Intrinsic rate of increase >0.16; OR age at 50% maturity = 1-5 years; OR growth rate >0.30; OR maximum age <11 years. Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed) Species has special behaviors that make it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., spawning aggregations; site fidelity; segregation by sex; migratory bottlenecks; unusual attraction to gear; etc.). Major spawning areas for Ocean Perch occur off the Norwegian coast and southwest Iceland (Greenland Institute of Natural Resources 2011, Guijarro Garcia et al. 2007). Females will concentrate in these spawning areas during the spring to release their larvae, making them vulnerable to fishing (ICES 2011b). These spawning areas coincide with the major Ocean Perch fishing areas (ICES 2011a, 2011b) Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity >20 years; sequential hermaphrodites; extremely low fecundity).

3 -0.25 Species has a small or restricted range (e.g., endemism; numerous evolutionarily significant units; restricted to one coastline; e.g., American lobster; striped bass; endemic reef fishes) Species exhibits high natural population variability driven by broad-scale environmental change (e.g. El Nino; decadal oscillations) Species does not have special behaviors that increase ease or population consequences of capture OR has special behaviors that make it less vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., species is widely dispersed during spawning) Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially resilient to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity <1 year; extremely high fecundity). Ocean Perch are ovoviviparous, meaning that fertilization and development of the eggs is internal. Mating between males and females will occur in fall or early winter, and the females carry the eggs and sperm for several months before fertilization occurs in late winter (ICES 2011a, DFO 2011, FAO 2011). The larvae are released between April and June over several days or weeks in a number of batches (Iceland Ministry of Fisheries 2011, ICES 2011a, FAO 2011). Ocean Perch may produce anywhere from 37,000 to 350,000 larvae, which are widely dispersed in the water column (Jonsson and Palsson 2006). Fecundity of Ocean Perch is considered moderate, so no points are added Species is distributed over a very wide range (e.g., throughout an entire hemisphere or ocean basin; e.g., swordfish; tuna; Patagonian toothfish). Ocean Perch are found throughout the North Atlantic. They are found off the coast of North America from Cape Cod to Newfoundland, but are relatively uncommon except in the Flemish Cap (DFO 1999), around southern Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and from the southern Barents Sea, along the coast of Norway to the northern parts of the North Sea (Iceland Ministry of Fisheries 2011). Juveniles are found in inshore waters, while adults are found off the coast from depths of 100 to 400 meters (FAO 2011). Ocean Perch is considered to have a moderate distribution range, so no points are added Species does not exhibit high natural population variability driven by broad-scale environmental change (e.g., El Nino; decadal oscillations) Points for Life History

4 ABUNDANCE Core Points (only one selection allowed) Compared to natural or un-fished level, the species population is: 1.00 Low: Abundance or biomass is <75% of BMSY or similar proxy (e.g., spawning potential ratio). In the eastern North Atlantic there are two populations of Ocean Perch which are assessed and managed separately: the East Greenland/Iceland/Faroe Islands population and the Barents/Norwegian Seas population. For the East Greenland/Iceland/Faroe Islands population, Ocean Perch catch peaked at 130,000 tonnes (t) in 1982, but then continually declined to 43,000 t in 1994 (ICES 2011a). Since then landings have been between 33,000 and 51,000 t. Landings in 2010 were around 38,700 t (ICES 2011a). The majority of the catch (95-98%) since 1990 has been taken around Iceland (ICES 2011c). The population is assessed using a biomass index based on the Icelandic spring groundfish survey, which began in The survey biomass index, U, represents the fishable biomass. A precautionary abundance target, Upa (U-precautionary), has been set at 60% of the maximum U in the time series (ICES 2011a). Biomass declined from the mid 1980s to well below Upa in the mid 1990s, but has since been increasing. Biomass has fluctuated around the target Upa level in recent years, and in 2011 biomass was 30% above Upa (ICES 2011a). Strong year classes in 1985 and 1990 have helped the population recover and have dominated the catch over the last several years. The 1985 year class is now disappearing, but the year classes were above average and are now recruiting to the fishery, which should sustain the population in the short term (ICES 2011a). Recruitment in recent years though has been low (ICES 2011a). It should be noted that the assessment is only based on abundance around Iceland, and may not accurately reflect region wide abundance. Abundance indices from groundfish surveys around the Faroe Islands have been low since 2000, and have continued to slowly decline (ICES 2011a). In contrast, survey abundance indices from East Greenland have been increasing since 2000 and are currently at the highest levels observed since the mid 1980s (ICES 2011a). In the Barents and Norwegian Seas, Ocean Perch landings declined from between 23,000 and 30,000 t in the 1980s to between 16,000 and 19,000 t in the 1990s, and have further declined to 6,000 to 10,000 t in the last decade (ICES 2011b). In 2010, catch was 7,700 t (ICES 2011d). Most of the catch is taken by Norway, and a large proportion is taken as bycatch in other fisheries since restrictions on directed fisheries have been in place since 2003 (ICES 2011b). Catch rates, survey data, and biomass estimates all indicate declining abundance of Ocean Perch for this population since the early to mid 1990s (ICES 2011b). Total biomass is estimated to have been reduced from 150,000 t in 1992 to less than 40,000 t in 2010, and mature biomass (ages 15+) has been reduced from 60,000 t in 1996 to 30,000 t in 2010 (ICES 2011b). Recruitment to the fishery has been very poor over the last years, but may potentially be increasing, although this remains highly uncertain (ICES 2011b). The population is at a very low abundance and Ocean Perch is currently listed as threatened on the Norwegian Redlist of species (ICES 2011b). At the

5 current catch levels, the population is projected to decline further, and may collapse in the next 10 to 15 years if fishing rates are not reduced (ICES 2009). In the western Atlantic, Ocean Perch are commercially caught off West Greenland and in the Flemish Cap. Catches off West Greenland, are not distinguished between Ocean Perch and its close relative, the deep-water redfish (Sebastes mentella). Catch of these two species has historically ranged from 5,000 to 30,000 t, but has been below 1,000 tons since 1987 and 500 t since 2001 (NAFO 2011). No directed fisheries are currently allowed on Ocean Perch or deep-water redfish in this region, so all catch comes from bycatch in other fisheries. Survey data and biomass estimates both indicate that abundance declined dramatically in the 1980s off West Greenland, remained low throughout the 1990s, and has subsequently increased since 2002 (NAFO 2011). The population appears to be recovering, but abundance still remains at a low level, well below levels observed in the early 1980s (NAFO 2011). In the Flemish Cap region, Ocean Perch are caught along with deep-water redfish and Acadian redfish (Sebastes fasciatus). Catches of Ocean Perch have historically not been significant compared to the other two redfish species, but in 2005 a new targeted Ocean Perch fishery was initiated, primarily by Portuguese and Russian vessels. Since 2005, catch of Ocean Perch has ranged from 1,000 to 8,000 t (NAFO 2011). Assessments of redfish in the Flemish Cap do not include Ocean Perch, and therefore abundance of Ocean Perch in this region is not known. Although the East Greenland/Iceland/Faroe Islands Ocean Perch population appears to be at a moderate abundance level, Ocean Perch abundance levels in the Norwegian/Barents Seas and off West Greenland are low. Thus, a score of 1 is awarded Medium: Abundance or biomass is % of BMSY or similar proxy; OR population is approaching or recovering from an overfished condition; OR adequate information on abundance or biomass is not available High: Abundance or biomass is >125% of BMSY or similar proxy. Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed) The population is declining over a generational time scale (as indicated by biomass estimates or standardized CPUE). Abundance estimates of Ocean Perch around Iceland indicate increasing abundance since 1995 and the population is now above the target biomass level (ICES 2011a). Abundance based on survey indices has also been increasing off East Greenland since 2000, but has been declining around the Faroe Islands since the late 1990s (ICES 2011a). The Barents/Norwegian Seas population has been declining since the early to mid 1990s, and is projected to decline further at the current catch levels (ICES 2011b). In the western Atlantic, the abundance of Ocean Perch off West Greenland has been increasing since 2002, while abundance information for Ocean Perch in the Flemish Cap is lacking

6 (NAFO 2011). Due to differences in abundance trends among populations, no points are subtracted Age, size or sex distribution is skewed relative to the natural condition (e.g., truncated size/age structure or anomalous sex distribution). Ages of Ocean Perch in the Icelandic catch range from 7 to 30+, and sizes of 30 to 45 cm are the most common (ICES 2011a). In this region, length and age distributions based on catch data and survey data show some year to year variation due to variation in the strength of year classes, but no overall changes in the distributions are evident since the mid 1980s (ICES 2011a). However, recruitment has been low in recent years, which has resulted in a lack of younger Ocean Perch in the population (ICES 2011a). In the Barents/Norwegian Seas, all age groups appear to declining, but there appears to be a disproportionally larger decrease in the younger age groups and size classes (ICES 2011b), likely due to poor recruitment over the last decade. There is some indication that recruitment may be improving, but this remains highly uncertain (ICES 2011b). Length and age distributions for Ocean Perch are not available for the western Atlantic populations. Since the age/length distributions of Ocean Perch in the eastern Atlantic appear to be skewed toward older age groups and larger sizes, due to a lack of successful recruitment over the last decade, points are subtracted Species is listed as "overfished" OR species is listed as "depleted", "endangered", or "threatened" by recognized national or international bodies. Ocean Perch in the Barents/Norwegian Seas is currently listed as threatened on the Norwegian Redlist of species, meaning this population may at risk of extinction (ICES 2011b) Current levels of abundance are likely to jeopardize the availability of food for other species or cause substantial change in the structure of the associated food web. Ocean Perch feed on a variety of small shrimp-like crustacean species, and small fish, including capelin and herring (ICES 2011a, Iceland Ministry of Fisheries 2011, FAO 2011). Predators of Ocean Perch include large fish, such as cod, halibut, long rough dab, and skates (DFO 2011, ICES 2011b). Ocean Perch use to play a large role in the food web in the Barents Sea, but abundance of Ocean Perch in this region has been low for some time (ICES 2011b). However, there is no indication that the predators of Ocean Perch have suffered due to low Ocean Perch abundance, which may be because their predators feed on a variety of fish species. Therefore, points are not subtracted The population is increasing over a generational time scale (as indicated by biomass estimates or standardized CPUE) Age, size or sex distribution is functionally normal.

7 +0.25 Species is close to virgin biomass Current levels of abundance provide adequate food for other predators or are not known to affect the structure of the associated food web Points for Abundance HABITAT QUALITY AND FISHING GEAR IMPACTS Core Points (only one selection allowed) Select the option that most accurately describes the effect of the fishing method upon the habitat that it affects 1.00 The fishing method causes great damage to physical and biogenic habitats (e.g., cyanide; blasting; bottom trawling; dredging). For the East Greenland/Iceland/Faroe Islands Ocean Perch population, average landings for the period have been 40,000 tons (t), with the majority of catches (94-98%) occurring in Icelandic waters (ICES 2011c). The vast majority of Ocean Perch (90-95%) is taken by bottom trawls, while the rest is taken as bycatch in gillnet and longline fisheries (ICES 2011c, Iceland Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture 2011). In the Barents/Norwegian Seas, catch of Ocean Perch has between 6,000 and 8,000 t from 2003 to 2010 and most landings have been taken off Norway (ICES 2011b). In this region, directed trawl fisheries for Ocean Perch are not permitted, but they are taken in directed gillnet and longline fisheries and as bycatch in bottom trawl fisheries for cod and saithe (ICES 2011d). In 2010, 43% of the catch was taken with trawls, 38% with gillnets, and 17% with longlines (ICES 2011d). In the western Atlantic, Ocean Perch are caught off West Greenland and in the Flemish Cap. Off West Greenland, directed fisheries have not been permitted for several years, but a small amount of Ocean Perch (<500 t) are taken as bycatch in shrimp, cod, and halibut trawl fisheries (NAFO 2011). Catches of Ocean Perch in the Flemish Cap have been increasing in recent years, due to a new targeted fishery for Ocean Perch that was initiated in 2005 by Portuguese bottom trawlers and Russian pelagic trawlers. Since then catches have ranged from 1,000 to 8,000 t (NAFO 2011). Bottom trawls and the principal gear use to capture Ocean Perch in the North Atlantic. Bottom trawls are funnel, bag shaped nets that are pulled from a boat and dragged along

8 the seafloor to capture bottom dwelling organisms. Since this gear is dragged along the seafloor, it has the potential to cause substantial damage to benthic organisms and habitats. Damages from bottom trawling may include removal of sessile organism, such as sponges or corals, disturbances to burrowing organisms, and re-suspension of sediments (Guijarro Garcia et al. 2007, ICES 2011b). Therefore a score of 1 is awarded The fishing method does moderate damage to physical and biogenic habitats (e.g., bottom gillnets; traps and pots; bottom longlines) The fishing method does little damage to physical or biogenic habitats (e.g., hand picking; hand raking; hook and line; pelagic long lines; mid-water trawl or gillnet; purse seines). Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed) Habitat for this species is so compromised from non-fishery impacts that the ability of the habitat to support this species is substantially reduced (e.g., dams; pollution; coastal development) Critical habitat areas (e.g., spawning areas) for this species are not protected by management using time/area closures, marine reserves, etc No efforts are being made to minimize damage from existing gear types OR new or modified gear is increasing habitat damage (e.g., fitting trawls with roller rigs or rockhopping gear; more robust gear for deep-sea fisheries) If gear impacts are substantial, resilience of affected habitats is very slow (e.g., deep water corals; rocky bottoms) Habitat for this species remains robust and viable and is capable of supporting this species. Ocean Perch are found throughout the North Atlantic Ocean, off the coasts of Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Norway (Iceland Ministry of Fisheries 2011). Juveniles tend to occur in inshore waters, while adults are found offshore from 100 to 400 meters (FAO 2011). There is no indication that this habitat is not viable to support this species, and therefore points are added Critical habitat areas (e.g., spawning areas) for this species are protected by management using time/area closures, marine reserves, etc. Important juvenile Ocean Perch nursery habitats occur in the west and north regions of Iceland, around Greenland, and in some areas of the Barents Sea (ICES 2011a, ICES 2011b). In Iceland, both permanent and temporary closed areas for trawling have been established in the west region in order to provide protection to juvenile Ocean Perch

9 (ICES 2011a). In addition, temporary two week area closures may be issued at any time if the amount of small Ocean Perch (<33 cm) exceeds 20% of the catch in a given area (ICES 2011a). Sorting grids for trawl fisheries are also used in Iceland and other regions, to minimize catch of juveniles in shrimp and groundfish fisheries (ICES 2011a, ICES 2011 b, NAFO 2011). Major spawning areas for Ocean Perch occur in southwest Iceland and along the Norwegian Shelf (Guijarro Garcia et al. 2007). The females will concentrate on these spawning grounds in the spring to release their larvae, and thus are vulnerable to fishing during this time (ICES 2011b). These spawning areas coincide with the major fishing areas for Ocean Perch (ICES 2011a, ICES 2011b). In the Barents/Norwegian Sea, a moratorium on directed fishing for Ocean Perch has been issued from March to June, which coincides with the spawning period, but Ocean Perch are still be taken as bycatch in other fisheries during this time (ICES 2011b). Although some measures have been implemented to protect important Ocean Perch nursery habitats, spawning habitats have not been protected and thus no points are added Gear innovations are being implemented over a majority of the fishing area to minimize damage from gear types OR no innovations necessary because gear effects are minimal If gear impacts are substantial, resilience of affected habitats is fast (e.g., mud or sandy bottoms) OR gear effects are minimal. Information on habitat preferences for Ocean Perch remains scarce, but adults are known to primarily occur from depths of 100 to 400 meters (FAO 2011, ICES 2011a). Sensitive habitats in the North Atlantic include cold-water corals, sponge habitats, and seamounts (ICES 2011a, Guijarro Garcia et al. 2007). Many of these sensitive habitats occur in deeper waters (>500 m), out of the major depth range for Ocean Perch, but sponge habitats may occur at a variety of depths (Guijarro Garcia et al. 2007, ICES 2011a). Due to a lack of sufficient information on affected habitats from Ocean Perch fishing, no points are added Points for Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts

10 MANAGEMENT Core Points (only one selection allowed) Select the option that most accurately describes the current management of the fisheries of this species Regulations are ineffective (e.g., illegal fishing or overfishing is occurring) OR the fishery is unregulated (i.e., no control rules are in effect) Management measures are in place over a major portion over the species' range but implementation has not met conservation goals OR management measures are in place but have not been in place long enough to determine if they are likely to achieve conservation and sustainability goals. In the eastern Atlantic, Ocean Perch fisheries are managed by individual nations, but the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) provides management advice. For the East Greenland/Iceland/Faroe Islands management unit, ICES recommends a total allowable catch limit each year based on biomass and fishing target reference points. The 2012 recommended total allowable catch is 40,000 t (ICES 2011c). There is no formal management agreement though between the three countries. Iceland and Greenland each set catch limits for their respective countries, while in the Faroe Islands the fishery is regulated by effort limitations (ICES 2011c). Other management measures include area closures and gear restrictions to minimize the capture of juvenile fish (ICES 2011a). The minimum legal catch size limit is 33 cm with an allowance to have up to 20% of undersized (i.e. less than 33 cm) individuals in the catch. If more than 20% of the catch is made up of Ocean Perch smaller than 33 cm, temporary 2 week area closures may be implemented (ICES 2011a). Although catches have generally exceeded recommended catch limits, management in this region appears to be working. Abundance of Ocean Perch in Icelandic waters has been increasing and is currently above the target biomass level (ICES 2011a). For the Barents/Norwegian Seas management unit, measures for Ocean Perch fisheries were not implemented until Since then, directed trawl fisheries have not been permitted in Norwegian waters, where most of the catch occurs, and there is now a 5 month moratorium (March-June and September) for directed fisheries for other gear fleets (ICES 2011b). In addition, there is a 15% bycatch limit for Ocean Perch when fishing for other species and a 32 cm minimum size limit, with a 10% allowance of undersized individuals (ICES 2011b). Although directed fisheries for Ocean Perch in the Barents/Norwegian Seas have been reduced, abundance for this population remains at a very low level. Around 6,000 to 8,000 t of Ocean Perch are still being caught in this region, which is not low enough to prevent further population declines (ICES 2011a), and thus additional management measures are needed. In the western Atlantic, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) provides management advice for Ocean Perch fisheries. The West Greenland, population is jointly

11 managed with deep-water redfish (Sebastes mentella). Directed fishing for these species has not been permitted off West Greenland for several years now, but a small amount of Ocean Perch are taken as bycatch in other fisheries. (NAFO 2011). Abundance of Ocean Perch in this region has been low for many years, but abundance has been increasing in recent years and the population is showing signs of recovery (NAFO 2011). The Flemish Cap population is managed jointly with deep-water redfish and Acadian redfish (Sebastes fasciatus). Historically catches in this region have been dominated by the other redfish species, but a new directed fishery for Ocean Perch began in 2005, resulting in increased Ocean Perch catches. The combined set catch limit for the three species for 2012 and 2013 is 6,500 tons (NAFO 2011). The status of Ocean Perch in the Flemish Cap region is unknown. For the East Greenland/Iceland/Faroe Islands population, sustainability goals for Ocean Perch fisheries are being met, but sustainability goals have not yet been met for the Norwegian/Barents Seas and West Greenland populations. Thus a score of 2 is awarded Substantial management measures are in place over a large portion of the species range and have demonstrated success in achieving conservation and sustainability goals. Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed) There is inadequate scientific monitoring of stock status, catch or fishing effort Management does not explicitly address fishery effects on habitat, food webs, and ecosystems. Management for Ocean Perch fisheries has addressed some ecosystem impacts, such as protecting important fish habitat and in some cases, other sensitive habitats (ICES 2011a). However, the effects of bottom trawling on the physical and biogenic habitat in the North Atlantic remain largely unknown, and information on bycatch in Ocean Perch fisheries is limited. Therefore, points are subtracted This species is overfished and no recovery plan or an ineffective recovery plan is in place. The Ocean Perch population in the Barents/Norwegian Seas is at a very low abundance level, and this population is currently listed on the Norwegian redlist as threatened, meaning it may be a risk of extinction (ICES 2011b). Directed trawl fishing for Ocean Perch in this region has not been permitted since 2003, but Ocean Perch may still be taken in directed gillnet and longline fisheries during 7 months of the year, and up to 15% of Ocean Perch may be retained as bycatch in fisheries for other species (ICES 2011b). At the current catch levels (6,000-8,000 t) the population is projected to decline further (ICES 2011b). Additional management measures are needed to further reduce fishing pressure on this population, but no new measures have been implemented.

12 The Ocean Perch population in West Greenland has also been at a very low level for many years. In this region, no directed fisheries for Ocean Perch are permitted, and this will remain the case through 2014 (NAFO 2011). Some Ocean Perch are taken as bycatch, but catches have been below 500 t since Abundance of Ocean Perch in this region has been increasing since 2002 and the population is beginning to show signs of recovery (NAFO 2011). Although management measures for the West Greenland population appear to be allowing this population to recover, management measures have not been stringent enough to stop the continued population decline of Ocean Perch in the Barents/ Norwegian Seas region, and thus points are subtracted Management has failed to reduce excess capacity in this fishery or implements subsidies that result in excess capacity in this fishery There is adequate scientific monitoring, analysis and interpretation of stock status, catch and fishing effort. For the East Greenland/Iceland/Faroe Islands population, Ocean Perch catch data, as well as age and lengths of the catch are monitored. In addition, several fishery independent surveys are conducted to assess the state of the population. In Iceland, a bottom trawl survey has been conducted in the spring of each year since 1985 and bottom trawl surveys have also been conducted in the autumn of each year since The population assessment for this region is based on the biomass index of Ocean Perch from the spring survey (U), which is considered to represent the fishable biomass. A target abundance level survey index, Upa (U-precautionary), has been established and set at 60% of the maximum biomass index observed in the time series (ICES 2011a). Groundfish surveys have also been conducted in the Faroe Islands since 1944 and in Greenland waters since 1982 (ICES 2011a). For the Barents Sea/Norwegian Seas unit, catch, length, and age data are monitored. This population is assessed using commercial catch per unit effort data (CPUE = catch per unit of fishing of effort), as well as abundance indices available from bottom trawl surveys since the mid 1980s (ICES 2011b). For the West Greenland population, catches are only recorded for Ocean Perch and the closely related deep-water redfish combined, but catches in this region are small. Information on abundance comes from the German groundfish survey conducted since 1982 and the Greenland shrimp fish survey since 1992 (NAFO 2011). In the Flemish Cap, catch of Ocean Perch is recorded, but information on abundance is not available (NAFO 2011). For all populations, except the Flemish Cap, catch and abundance of Ocean Perch are adequately monitored.

13 +0.25 Management explicitly and effectively addresses fishery effects on habitat, food webs, and ecosystems This species is overfished and there is a recovery plan (including benchmarks, timetables and methods to evaluate success) in place that is showing signs of success OR recovery plan is not needed Management has taken action to control excess capacity or reduce subsidies that result in excess capacity OR no measures are necessary because fishery is not overcapitalized Points for Management BYCATCH Core Points (only one selection allowed) Select the option that most accurately describes the current level of bycatch and the consequences that result from fishing this species. The term, "bycatch" used in this document excludes incidental catch of a species for which an adequate management framework exists. The terms, "endangered, threatened, or protected," used in this document refer to species status that is determined by national legislation such as the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (or another nation's equivalent), the IUCN Red List, or a credible scientific body such as the American Fisheries Society Bycatch in this fishery is high (>100% of targeted landings), OR regularly includes a "threatened, endangered or protected species." 2.00 Bycatch in this fishery is moderate (10-99% of targeted landings) AND does not regularly include "threatened, endangered or protected species" OR level of bycatch is unknown. Bottom trawls are the primary gear used to capture Ocean Perch in targeted fisheries in the North Atlantic (ICES 2011c). Some Ocean Perch are also captured in directed gillnet, longline, and pelagic trawl fisheries (ICES 2011a, d, NAFO 2011). Ocean Perch are also caught at bycatch in fisheries for other species, including fisheries for shrimp, cod, halibut, saithe, and lobster (NAFO 2011, ICES 2011c, d). The demersal or bottom fisheries in the North Atlantic that capture Ocean Perch are generally mixed fisheries, capturing multiple commercial species. Ocean Perch may be captured in association with cod, haddock, saithe, Greenland halibut, plaice, deep-water redfish, and wolfish (ICES 2011a, ICES 2011b). Information on the capture of non-

14 target species and discard rates in these fisheries though is limited. Some discard information has been collected for Icelandic fisheries since 2001, but only for the major commercial species. Discard rates for cod and haddock have ranged from 0.2 to 2% and from 0.7 to 5%, respectively, while discards for saithe and Ocean Perch were found to be negligible (Palsson et al. 2010). Technically though, according to Icelandic law, discards are prohibited and all caches must be landed (Iceland Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture 2011), thus discard rates in Icelandic fisheries are unlikely to be representative of discard rates in fisheries elsewhere. Due to a lack of information on bycatch rates in Ocean Perch fisheries, an overall score of 2 is awarded Bycatch in this fishery is low (<10% of targeted landings) and does not regularly include "threatened, endangered or protected species." Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed) Bycatch in this fishery is a contributing factor to the decline of "threatened, endangered, or protected species" and no effective measures are being taken to reduce it Bycatch of targeted or non-targeted species (e.g., undersize individuals) in this fishery is high and no measures are being taken to reduce it Bycatch of this species (e.g., undersize individuals) in other fisheries is high OR bycatch of this species in other fisheries inhibits its recovery, and no measures are being taken to reduce it. Much of the Ocean Perch catch in the Barents/Norwegian Seas region comes from bycatch in cod and saithe trawl fisheries, since directed trawl fisheries for Ocean Perch are not permitted in this region and directed fisheries with other gears have also been limited due to the low abundance of this population (ICES 2011d). Catch in this region though has remained at around 7,000 t in recent years, which is too high to allow the Ocean Perch population to recover and to keep the population from declining further (ICES 2011a). Therefore in this region, the bycatch of Ocean Perch in other fisheries has a large impact on the population. Off West Greenland, directed fisheries for Ocean Perch of any kind are not permitted, so all Ocean Perch captured in this region are taken as bycatch in other fisheries. In contrast to the Barents/Norwegian Seas region though, bycatch of Ocean Perch off western Greenland has remained low (<500 t since 2001), and this population is beginning to show signs of recovery (NAFO 2011). Large amounts of juvenile Ocean Perch were historically caught and discarded in shrimp trawl fisheries, but sorting grids have now been implemented for shrimp fisheries in most of the important nursery areas in the North Atlantic, which has helped to reduce juvenile catches (ICES 2011a, ICES 2011b). Additionally, large areas of west Iceland have been closed to trawl fishing to protect juvenile Ocean Perch (ICES 2011a). Reduced discards of juveniles in trawl fisheries may also be due to the lower abundance of juvenile fish, as

15 Ocean Perch recruitment has been low for most regions over the last decade (ICES 2011a). Although measures have been taken to reduce juvenile Ocean Perch bycatch in shrimp trawl fisheries, the high bycatch of Ocean Perch in cod and saithe bottom trawl fisheries in the Barents/Norwegian Seas region is likely inhibiting the recovery of this Ocean Perch population and no measures to reduce bycatch in this region have been taken. Thus points are subtracted The continued removal of the bycatch species contributes to its decline. Since the demersal or bottom fisheries in the North Atlantic are highly mixed, they will impact more than one species (ICES 2011b). For example, off East Greenland cod and Ocean Perch are found in the same areas and have historically been taken in the same fisheries. Cod is currently at a low abundance level in East Greenland, and it has been recommended that there be no fishery for cod in this region for Catch of Ocean Perch off East Greenland has been low since the 1990s, but a targeted fishery was initiated in this region in 2009, which could affect the cod population if the fishery continues to increase (ICES 2011a). However, due to a lack of information on Ocean Perch fishery impacts on other species, no points are subtracted Measures taken over a major portion of the species range have been shown to reduce bycatch of "threatened, endangered, or protected species" or bycatch rates are no longer deemed to affect the abundance of the "protected" bycatch species OR no measures needed because fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear) There is bycatch of targeted (e.g., undersize individuals) or non-targeted species in this fishery and measures (e.g., gear modifications) have been implemented that have been shown to reduce bycatch over a large portion of the species range OR no measures are needed because fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear) Bycatch of this species in other fisheries is low OR bycatch of this species in other fisheries inhibits its recovery, but effective measures are being taken to reduce it over a large portion of the range The continued removal of the bycatch species in the targeted fishery has had or will likely have little or no impact on populations of the bycatch species OR there are no significant bycatch concerns because the fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear) Points for Bycatch

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17 Pálsson Ó, Björnsson H, Björnsson E, Jóhannesson G, Ottesen Þ (2010) Discards in demersal Icelandic fisheries Marine Research in Iceland 154. Stransky C, Gudmundsottir S, Sigurdsson T, Lemvig S, Nedreaas K, Saborido-Rey F (2005) Age determination and growth of Atlantic redfish (Sebastes marinus and S. mentella): bias and precision of age readers and otolith preparation methods. ICES Journal of Marine Science 62: Saborido-Rey F, Garabana D, Cervino S (2004) Age and growth of redfish (Sebastes marinus, S. mentella, and S. fasciatus) on the Flemish Cap (Northwest Atlantic). ICES Journal of Marine Science 61: