MSC SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES CERTIFICATION

Off-Site Surveillance Visit - Report for Gulf of St Lawrence Northern Shrimp Fishery

3rd Surveillance stage

July 2017

Certificate Code: F-ACO-0019 Prepared For: Association of Seafood Producers, L’Association Coopérative des Pêcheurs de L’Ile Ltée, Association Québécoise de l’Industrie de la Pêche & Produits Belle-Baie Ltée. Prepared By: Acoura Marine Authors: Paul Knapman & Julian Addison

BH (21/10/15) – Ref FCR 2.0/GCR/2.1

Acoura Marine Surveillance Report

Gulf of St Lawrence Northern Shrimp

Assessment Data Sheet

Fishery name Gulf of St Lawrence Northern Shrimp

Species and Stock Northern Prawn / Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) Northern Prawn / Shrimp Shrimp Fishing Areas 8, 9, 10, 12

Date certified 20th March 2014 Date of expiry 19th March 2019

Surveillance level and type Level 4 - Offsite

Date of surveillance audit Week commencing 22nd May 2017

Surveillance stage (tick one) 1st Surveillance

2nd Surveillance

3rd Surveillance ✓

4th Surveillance

Other (expedited etc.)

Surveillance team Lead assessor: Paul Knapman Assessors: Julian Addison

CAB name Acoura Marine

CAB contact details Address 6 Redheughs Rigg Edinburgh EH12 9DQ

Phone/Fax 0131 335 6662

Email [email protected]

Contact name(s) Billy Hynes

Client contact details Address Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) 10 Fort William Place Suite 103 Baine Johnston Centre St John's, NL A1C 1KF, Canada

Phone/Fax +1 (709) 726-3730

Email [email protected]

Contact name(s) Derek Butler

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Client contact details Address L’Association Québécoise de l’Industrie de la Pêche. 2590. Laurier Blvd. 10th Floor Suite 1050. Québec (Québec) G1V 4M6

Phone/Fax (418) 654-1831

Email [email protected]

Contact name(s) Jean-Paul Gagné

Client contact details Address L’Association Coopérative Des Pêcheurs De L’île Ltée 90 Main Street Lamèque, New-Brunswick E8T 1M8

Phone/Fax T (506) 344-2204/ F (506) 344- 0413

Email [email protected]

Contact name(s) Annie Chiasson

Client contact details Address Produits Belle-Baie Ltée. 10 rue du Quai Caraquet, NB. E1W 1B6

Phone/Fax (506) 727-7166/ F (506) 727- 7166

Email [email protected]

Contact name(s) Fernand Brideau

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Contents

1 Introduction ...... 5 1.1 Scope of Surveillance ...... 5 1.2 Aims of the Surveillance ...... 5 1.3 Certificate Holder Details ...... 5 2 Surveillance Process ...... 7 2.1 Findings of the original assessment ...... 7 2.2 Surveillance Activity ...... 7 2.2.1 Surveillance team details ...... 7 2.2.2 Date & Location of surveillance audit ...... 8 2.2.3 Stakeholder consultation & meetings ...... 8 2.2.4 What was inspected ...... 8 2.2.5 Stakeholder Consultation ...... 8 2.3 Surveillance Standards ...... 8 2.3.1 MSC Standards, Requirements and Guidance used ...... 8 2.3.2 Confirmation that destructive fishing practices or controversial unilateral exemptions have not been introduced ...... 8 3 Fishery Background ...... 9 3.1 Changes in the management system ...... 10 3.2 Compliance ...... 11 3.3 Changes in relevant regulations ...... 11 3.4 Changes to personnel involved in science, management or industry ...... 11 3.5 Changes to scientific base of information including stock assessments ...... 11 3.6 Changes within the fishery which impact traceability or the ability to segregate between fish from the Unit of Certification (UoC) and fish from outside the UoC (non-certified fish)...... 16 3.7 TAC and catch data ...... 16 3.8 Summary of assessment conditions ...... 17 4 Results ...... 18 4.1 Condition 1 ...... 18 4.2 Condition 2 ...... 25 4.3 Condition 3 ...... 30 5 Conclusion ...... 32 5.1 Summary of findings ...... 32 6 References ...... 33 Appendix 1 – Re-scoring evaluation tables ...... 34 Appendix 2 - Stakeholder submissions ...... 35 Appendix 3 - Surveillance audit information...... 2 Appendix 4 - Additional detail on conditions/ actions/ results ...... 4 Appendix 5 - Revised Surveillance Program ...... 5

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3 Introduction

Scope of Surveillance This report outlines the findings of the 3rd Annual Surveillance of the Gulf of St Lawrence Northern Shrimp Fishery. The scope of the certified fishery and therefore of this surveillance is specified in the Unit of Certification (UoC) set out below:

Species Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis)

Stock Shrimp Fishing Areas 8, 9, 10, 12

Geographical Area Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada

Fishing Method Otter trawl

Management System Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), through Quebec, Gulf and Newfoundland-Labrador Regions (Resource Management) and Mont Joli (Science), supported by an Advisory Committee.

Client Group Shrimp Fishing Area 8 only: Association of Seafood Producers Shrimp Fishing Areas 8, 9, 10, 12: Association Québécoise de l’Industrie de la Pêche, L’Association Coopérative des Pêcheurs de L’Ile Ltée, Produits Bell-Baie Ltée

Aims of the Surveillance The purpose of the annual Surveillance Report is fourfold: 1. to establish and report on whether or not there have been any material changes to the circumstances and practices affecting the original complying assessment of the fishery; 2. to monitor the progress made to improve those practices that have been scored as below “good practice” (a score of 80 or above) but above “minimum acceptable practice” (a score of 60 or above) – as captured in any “conditions” raised and described in the Public Report and in the corresponding Action Plan drawn up by the client; 3. to monitor any actions taken in response to any (non-binding) “recommendations” made in the Public Report; 4. to re-score any Performance Indicators (PIs) where practice or circumstances have materially changed during the intervening year, focusing on those PIs that form the basis of any “conditions” raised. Please note: The primary focus of this surveillance audit is assessing changes made in the previous year. For a complete picture, this report should be read in conjunction with the Public Certification Report for this fishery assessment which can be found here: https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/gulf-of-st-lawrence-northern-shrimp-trawl-fishery-esquiman- channel/@@assessments

Certificate Holder Details The Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL) northern shrimp fishery was initially certified to the MSC sustainable fishing standard under two separate UoCs. One certificate was issued for the GSL shrimp fishing areas (SFA) 9, 10, 12 in September 2008 and subsequently recertified in March 2014. The initial certification assessment was conducted using MSC Fisheries Certification Methodology, version 6 (September

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2006) requirements and resulted in a total of three conditions of certification being issued. The re- assessment was conducted under the requirements of MSC Certification Requirements, version 1.2 (January 2012), again with three conditions of certification issued. The client group for those certificates included Association Québécoise de L’Industrie de la Pêche, who represent the Québec based fishing industry and includes four shrimp processing companies located on the Gaspé Peninsula. In addition to this client, there are two New Brunswick based shrimp processors participating in this fishery client group including L’Association Coopérative Des Pêcheurs De L’île Ltée in Lamèque and Produits Belle-Baie Ltée., in Caraquet. A second certificate was issued for SFA 8 after a harmonized assessment of SFA 8 completed in March 2009. This SFA was subsequently included in the SFA 9, 10, 12 re-assessment which started in 2012 and was recertified in March 2014. In addition to the three previously mentioned clients, a fourth client group member; Association of Seafood Producers, representing Newfoundland and Labrador fish processing industry members, is part of the SFA 8 client group membership.

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2. Surveillance Process

Findings of the original assessment As a result of the re-assessment, three conditions of certification were raised by the assessment team, and maintenance of the MSC certificate is contingent on the Gulf of St Lawrence Northern Shrimp Fishery moving to comply with these conditions within the time-scales set at the time the certificate was issued.

Surveillance Activity

3.5.2 Surveillance team details The audit team for this annual surveillance included the following individuals. Paul Knapman (Team Lead and P3) is an independent consultant based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Paul began his career in fisheries nearly 30 years ago as a fisheries officer in the UK, responsible for the enforcement of UK and EU fisheries regulations. He then worked with the UK government’s nature conservation advisors (1993-2001), as their Fisheries Programme Manager, responsible for establishing and developing an extensive programme of work with fisheries managers, scientists, the fishing industry and ENGOs, researching the effects of fishing and integrating nature conservation requirements into national and European fisheries policy and legislation. Between 2001-2004 he was Head of the largest inshore fisheries management organisation in England, with responsibility for managing an extensive area of inshore fisheries on the North Sea coast. The organisation’s responsibilities and roles included: stock assessments; setting and ensuring compliance with allowable catches; developing and applying regional fisheries regulations; the development and implementation of fisheries management plans; the lead authority for the largest marine protected area in England. In 2004, Paul moved to Canada and established his own consultancy providing analysis, advisory and developmental work on fisheries management policy in Canada and Europe. His work included helping develop and draft the management plan for one of Canada’s first marine protected areas, an extensive review on IUU fishing in the Baltic Sea and, appointment as rapporteur to the European Commission’s Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council. In 2008, Paul joined Moody Marine as their Americas Regional Manager, with responsibility for managing and developing their regional MSC business. He became General Manager of the business in 2012. Paul has been involved as a lead assessor, team member and technical advisor/reviewer for more than 50 different fisheries worldwide in the MSC programme. He returned to his own fisheries consultancy business in 2015. Dr Julian Addison (P1 & P2) is an independent fisheries consultant with 30 years’ experience of stock assessment and provision of management advice on shellfish fisheries, and a background of scientific research on shellfish biology and population dynamics and inshore fisheries. Until December 2010 he worked at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in Lowestoft, England where he was Senior Shellfish Advisor to Government policy makers, which involved working closely with marine managers, legislators and stakeholders, Government Statutory Nature Conservation Organisations and environmental NGOs. He has experienced shellfish management approaches in North America as a visiting scientist at DFO in Halifax, Nova Scotia and at NMFS in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. For four years, he was a member of the Scientific Committee and the UK delegation to the International Whaling Commission providing scientific advice to the UK Commissioner. He has worked extensively with ICES and was Chair of the Working Group on the Biology and Life History of Crabs, a member of the Working Group on Crangon Fisheries and Life History and a member of the Steering Group on Ecosystems Function. He has recently completed or is currently undertaking MSC full assessments for the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab fishery, the Ireland and Northern Ireland bottom grown mussel fisheries, both the Estonia and Faroe Islands Barents Sea cold water prawn fisheries, the Nephrops fishery in the Skagerrak and Kattegat, the Swedish shrimp fishery in the Skagerrak and Norwegian Deep and the Eastern Canada offshore lobster fishery. He has also undertaken various MSC pre-assessments and surveillance audits and has carried out peer reviews of MSC assessments in both Europe and North America of lobster, cold water prawn, razorfish, cockle and scallop fisheries. Other recent work includes a review of the stock assessment model for blue crabs

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in Chesapeake Bay, USA, and an assessment of three Alaskan crab fisheries under the FAO-based Responsible Fisheries Management scheme. This off-site surveillance visit was carried out by Paul Knapman and Julian Addison. The Team Leader was Paul Knapman.

3.5.2 Date & Location of surveillance audit This year’s audit took place off-site. The client provided a submission with updates on key aspects of the fishery (including progress against conditions) on 23 May 2017. The audit team held conference calls on 30 June 2017 with DFO (Bernard Morin) and on 7 July 2017 with the client (Derek Butler) and the client’s representative (Louise Savard) to review the information and discuss the overall performance of the fishery during the auditing period.

3.5.2 Stakeholder consultation & meetings Stakeholders were invited to participate in the audit via notification on the MSC website. There were no requests from any stakeholders to participate in the process.

3.5.2 What was inspected This annual surveillance reviewed the status of the following issues, relative to the GSL Northern Shrimp Fishery: • Conditions, progress and planned upcoming activities; • Stock status; • Fishery regulatory and management changes; • Compliance; • P2 interactions; • Traceability.

3.5.2 Stakeholder Consultation A total of 24 stakeholder organisations and individuals having relevant interest in the assessment were identified and consulted during this surveillance audit. The interest of others not appearing on this list was solicited through the postings on the MSC website.

Surveillance Standards

3.5.2 MSC Standards, Requirements and Guidance used This surveillance audit was carried out according to the MSC Fisheries Certification Requirements FAM V1.3 using process V2.0.

3.5.2 Confirmation that destructive fishing practices or controversial unilateral exemptions have not been introduced No indication was given or suggested that destructive fishing practices or controversial unilateral exemptions are taking place in this fishery.

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3. Fishery Background The Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) fishery is conducted by trawlers in four Shrimp Fishing Areas (SFA): Estuary (SFA 12), Sept-Iles (SFA 10), Anticosti (SFA 9) and Esquiman (SFA 8) (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Shrimp fishing areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Source: DFO, 2016a)

The number of licences in the Estuary and Gulf Northern Shrimp fishery in 2016 was 128. Of these, 115 were active (B. Morin, DFO, pers. comm.). The fishery has been managed by Total Allowable Catch (TAC) since 1982. TAC-based management limits fishing to protect the reproductive potential of the population. A combination of Individual and Transferable Quota (IQ & ITQ) is operated within the fishery. Reference points were determined and harvest guidelines were established based on the main stock indicator and its position in relation to the stock status classification zones (healthy, cautious and critical). These guidelines are consistent with a precautionary approach. Once the harvest is projected, decision rules (TAC will not change by more than 15% in any one year) are applied to determine the TAC. Technical conservation measures include a minimum mesh size (40 mm) and, since 1993, the compulsory use of the Nordmore grate, which reduces groundfish by-catches. The annual TACs for each SFA in 2016 were: Estuary = 1,084 t, Sept-Iles = 12,606 t, Anticosti = 9,511 t, Esquiman = 7,012 t. The annual TACs for each SFA in 2017 were: Estuary = 921 t, Sept-Iles = 10,715 t, Anticosti = 8,084 t, Esquiman = 7,012 t. The TACs and other regulations are set out in a Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) published as an annual Notice to Fishers on the DFO website (DFO, 2017a) .

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Monitoring of fishing activity and catches is maintained through mandatory use of a vessel monitoring system (VMS), completion of log books, a dockside monitoring program, and an industry funded observer program which aims to cover at least 5% of fishing trips in each year. This was achieved in 2016 (B. Morin, DFO, pers. comm.). All shrimp are landed for processing as fresh (iced) whole, shell-on shrimp. The fishery opens on April 1 and closes on December 31.

3.1 Changes in the management system Since the fishery was recertified in 2014, there have been no significant or unplanned changes to the management system. There has been a pilot study to test mechanical separation of the bycatch from the shrimp. The CHP notes the following: Mechanical bycatch separators Mechanical devices intended to separate bycatch from the catch of shrimp Pandalus borealis are authorized on board shrimp fishing vessels in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 8, 9, 10 and 12) with the following conditions specific to these Areas: - The authorized automatic deduction of landings in the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence to account for white shrimp and small bycatch is 1.5% instead of 2%. - License holders from Quebec and New Brunswick who participated in the pilot project from 2014 to 2016 must have one fishing trip with an at-sea observer, at their expense, in addition to the possible regular at-sea observer coverage required in the CHP. - License holders from Quebec and New Brunswick using a mechanized separator for the first year must have two fishing trips with an at-sea observer, at their expense, in addition to the possible regular at-sea observer coverage required in the CHP. - License holders from Newfoundland and Labrador using a mechanized separator for the first year must have three fishing trips with an observer at sea, at their expense, in addition to the regular at-sea observer coverage required in the CHP. The number of additional trips for Newfoundland and Labrador could be re-evaluated in the future based on the compliance with the at-sea observer coverage level in the CHP. - Licence holders that have the intention of using mechanized separator have to request for specific licence conditions via the National Online Licensing System. Six vessels are participating in the project. The cost of the mechanical separating equipment is high and so it is unclear whether other vessels will participate in the project (B. Morin, DFO, pers. comm.). An ‘evergreen’ Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) is in place for the fishery (DFO, 2016b). It is available on request but has yet to be published on the DFO website. The plan is expected to be published on the DFO website by the end of the fiscal year. New staff resourcing this year is likely to enhance the sustainability elements of the shrimp resource management (B. Morin, DFO, pers. comm.). On request from the industry, there was a Shrimp Advisory Meeting early this year. These are usually biennial, however, last year’s fishery was not as good as anticipated and, at the request of licence holders, DFO agreed to convene the meeting and exchange information and discuss observed changes in the fishery (B. Morin, DFO, pers. comm.). The audit team were provided with a letter to members of the Estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence Shrimp Advisory Committee (EGSAC) informing them of the conditions under which a new vessel, equipped to process shrimp, will operate in 2017. The vessel is processing shell-on individually quick frozen (IQF) shrimp in 5kg boxes. No other vessels in the shrimp fleet process shrimp at sea. Some concerns have been expressed with respect to the consequence of shore-based processors if more vessels process shrimp at sea. However, the high cost of investing in new vessels big enough to process at-sea is considered too prohibitive. The vessel is subject to 50% observer coverage of all trips, and an evaluation of the first year of monitoring of the fishing operations will be carried out after the fishing season (B. Morin, DFO, pers. comm.).

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3.2 Compliance DFO Conservation and Protection (C&P) reported that compliance in the fishery is improving. The level of at-sea and aerial enforcement hours increased in 2016 and the number of reported infractions decreased. While figures for enforcement effort were not provided, the number of infractions declined significantly from 2015 to 2016 (Table 1). DFO C&P confirmed that most infractions were for minor compliance issues such as hailing-in and hailing-out infringements or technical issues with VMS and have no impact on the sustainability of the fishery.

Table 1. Number of infractions in the Gulf of St Lawrence Northern shrimp fishery (source: DFO C&P).

Year No. of infractions

2013 55

2014 25

2015 45

2016 13

3.3 Changes in relevant regulations There were no significant changes to any of the relevant regulations for the fishery.

3.4 Changes to personnel involved in science, management or industry There were no changes in key DFO personnel within the reporting period and no reported changes in key representatives within the industry.

3.5 Changes to scientific base of information including stock assessments

3.5.1 Stock status There have been no changes to the stock assessment framework and methods since publication of the Public Certification Report. Detailed assessments are conducted every two years, while an update of indices is conducted in intervening years. The last full assessment was undertaken in January 2016 (DFO 2016a), and reported in last year’s audit report. The 2016 assessment showed that the stocks in all four SFAs were in the healthy zone (Figure 2) and the main stock indicator has been relatively stable in recent years in Estuary (SFA12), Anticosti (SFA9), and Sept-Iles (SFA10), but has been declining in recent years in Esquiman (SFA8).

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Figure 2. Main stock indicator for all SFAs in relation to limit reference point (LRP) and upper stock reference point (USR). (Source: DFO, 2016a). Estimates of relative abundance of the various year-classes from the research survey showed that the number of males likely to change sex in 2016 was similar to most years in Sept-Iles, Anticosti and Esquiman, but they were less abundant in Estuary. However, the number of juveniles (8-12mm carapace length) was near the historical average in 2014 and 2015 suggesting that future recruitment in all areas will be similar to previous years (DFO, 2016a). In the years between assessments, the assessment indices are updated and are reported to the Estuary and Gulf Shrimp Advisory Committee (EGSAC). The TACs are adjusted based on this update of stock indicators and the decision rules of the precautionary approach. The following information has been extracted from the DFO report reporting on the “Update of Stock Status Indicators for Northern Shrimp in the Estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence” (DFO, 2017b). The main indicator of stock status is calculated from the indices obtained from the summer commercial fishery and the DFO research survey. The update stock indicators provide the fisheries management authorities with the projected harvests for 2017 in SFA 8, 9, 10 and 12, according to the guidelines of the precautionary approach. Following changes in the stock indicators in 2015, the 2016 TAC was reduced by 8.4% in the Estuary fishing area and 15% in Esquiman while it remained stable in the Sept-Iles and Anticosti areas. The preliminary statistics for 2016 indicate that the landings from all areas were 28,010 tonnes. Preliminary landings reached more than 94% of the TAC in the majority of areas except the Anticosti area where 85.7% of the TAC was reached (Figure 3). Total fishing effort increased by 28% in 2016 to total approximately 117,000 fishing hours.

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Figure 3. Landings and total allowable catch (TAC) by fishing area and by year. The 2016 landings data are preliminary. (Source: DFO, 2017b)

The update of the main stock status indicator is based on two independent sources of data, the number of shrimp per unit of effort (NPUE) from the summer commercial fishery (June, July and August) and the index of shrimp abundance from the DFO research survey. From these two sources of data, indices for male and female components are estimated, giving a total of four indices by fishing area. In order to combine them into one indicator, each index is standardized in relation to a reference period. In the Sept-Iles and Anticosti areas, indices for the male component declined in 2016 compared to 2015, while they increased slightly in Esquiman and diverged in the Estuary (Figure 4). For the female component, all indices decreased in 2016 with the exception of the Esquiman research index where the value is comparable to that observed in 2015. The assessment team noted that there were differences in the trends in stock indicators in recent years for the male component for Estuary between the fishery indicator and the stock survey indicator. This discrepancy is likely due to the two indices not sampling the same fraction of the population, with the survey covering the entire shrimp distribution, but the fishery targets channel heads where shrimp abundance is higher. This has particularly been the case in Estuary in recent years, although the stock survey is now more widespread than in previous years and similar discrepancies have not been so evident in recent years in the other areas. Male Female

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Figure 4. Standardized indices from the commercial fishery (blue) and the research survey (red) for males (M) and females (F) by fishing area and year. (Source: DFO, 2017b)

As noted above, for each stock, the main stock status indicator represents the mean of the four indices, the males and females obtained from the summer commercial fishery and the DFO research survey. The update of the main indicator of stock status shows that the four stocks were in the healthy zone in 2016 (Figure 5). The stock status indicators for Estuary, Sept-Iles and Anticosti decreased significantly in 2016; these decreases ranging between 27 and 32%. The indicator remained stable in Esquiman in 2016. The main indicator for Estuary shows large inter-annual variations and has been decreasing for 2 years. The indicator for Sept-Iles shows significant inter-annual variations in recent years, with a general downward trend since 2003. The indicator in Anticosti, which was high and stable over the past three years, decreased significantly in 2016. The indicator in Esquiman stabilized in 2016 following four years of decline. In all cases, the main indicator of stock status now compares with the values observed in the early 2000s (Figure 5).

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Figure 5. Main stock status indicator by year and limit (LRP) and upper (USR) stock reference points for each fishing area. (Source: DFO, 2017b).

Although the four northern shrimp stocks in the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence have been maintained in the healthy zone since the early 2000s, the main indicator of the status of each stock has been declining in recent years and is close to the upper reference point and the caution zone. DFO scientists consider that there are two main reasons for the observed decline in shrimp stocks - deep water temperature continues to warm and redfish biomass is increasing. These changes may have an impact on the dynamics and productivity of Northern Shrimp, including changes in spatial distribution, growth, reproduction and trophic relationships (DFO, 2017b). Redfish are a major predator of small (but not large) shrimp. Any effect of temperature or other climatic factors on shrimp stock biomass is likely to be observed first in Esquiman (L. Savard, pers. comm.). These changes in environmental and ecosystem conditions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence will be reviewed in detail during the next shrimp stock assessment. Whilst the main indicator of stock status of all four stocks has declined in recent years, a re-assessment of stock status is not warranted since the precautionary approach adopted for this fishery provides for an annual updating of the main indicator of stock status and, if necessary, an adjustment of TACs. According to the guidelines, the projected harvests for 2017 are 750 t for Estuary, 8,967 t for Sept-Iles, 6,364 t for Anticosti and 6,876 t for Esquiman (Figure 6). This information is provided to Resource Management and, in consultation with the Estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence Shrimp Advisory Committee (EGSAC), the TACs for 2017 are set. Based on the projected harvests and using the decision rules (TAC will not change by more than 15% in any one year) the TACs for 2017 were set at 921 t for Estuary, 10,715 t for Sept-Iles, 8,084 t for Anticosti, and 7,012 t for Esquiman. The Client emphasized that further reductions in TACs following similar reductions in 2016 were fully agreed by licence holders as a necessary component of the precautionary approach to stock management. There will be a full formal stock assessment early in 2018, and there is a commitment within the harvest guidelines to review the whole stock assessment approach within 5 years of its implementation.

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Figure 6. Harvest guidelines by fishing area. The projected harvest for 2017 is shown (dashed line) in view of the main stock indicator in 2016. (Source: DFO, 2017b)

3.5.2 Inseparable or Practically Inseparable (IPI) species Striped shrimp (Pandalus montagui), the only IPI species identified for this fishery, is monitored by samples collected from commercial catches. In 2016 P. montagui was seen only very rarely in the catch making up 0.009% of the total catch weight of target species, which was lower than in previous years, but the average for the period 2010-2015 was still only 0.25% (B. Morin, DFO, pers. comm.).

3.5.3 Bycatch The IFMP includes a protocol for closing 10-min longitude by 10-min latitude grid squares when bycatch exceeds a specified level. Redfish bycatch was the cause of a number of area closures in 2016 (B. Morin, pers. comm.), but these closures were not considered to have a significant effect on shrimp fishing opportunities because the closed areas are small, and shrimp fishers will in any case avoid areas of high redfish bycatch because high bycatches cause increased sorting times of the catches and reduce the quality of the shrimp catch.

3.6 Changes within the fishery which impact traceability or the ability to segregate between fish from the Unit of Certification (UoC) and fish from outside the UoC (non-certified fish). There have been no reported changes in the fishery which impact traceability.

3.7 TAC and catch data

Esquiman (SFA 8) Anticosti (SFA 9) TAC (mt) Year 2016 Amount 7,012 Year 2016 Amount 9,511

Unit of Assessment Year 2016 Amount 7,012 Year 2016 Amount 9,511 share of TAC Unit of Certification Year 2016 Amount 7,012 Year 2016 Amount 9,511 share of TAC Year Year (most 2016 Amount 7,022 (most 2016 Amount 8,153 recent) recent) Total green weight catch by UoC (mt) Year Year (second (second 2015 Amount 7,911 2015 Amount 8,762 most most recent) recent)

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Sept Iles (SFA 10) Estuary (SFA 12) TAC (mt) Year 2016 Amount 12,606 Year 2016 Amount 1,084

Unit of Assessment Year 2016 Amount 12,606 Year 2016 Amount 1,084 share of TAC (%) Unit of Certification Year 2016 Amount 12,606 Year 2016 Amount 1,084 share of TAC (%) Year Year (most 2016 Amount 11,810 (most 2016 Amount 1,025 recent) recent) Total green weight catch by UoC (mt) Year Year (secon (second 2015 Amount 12,606 2015 Amount 1,093 d most most recent) recent)

3.8 Summary of assessment conditions

Condition Performance Status PI original PI revised number indicator (PI) score score 1 2.4.2 On target 60 Not revised 2 2.5.2 On target 60 Not revised 3 3.2.4 Closed at 2nd audit 70 80

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4 Results

4.2 Condition 1

PI Number Scoring Guidepost Text Score • There is a partial strategy in place, if necessary, that is expected to achieve the Habitat Outcome 80 level of performance or above. Performance • There is some objective basis for 2.4.2 60 Indicator & confidence that the partial strategy will Score work, based on information directly about the fishery and/or habitats involved. • There is some evidence that the partial strategy is being implemented successfully.

By the 3rd surveillance audit, the client must provide evidence that a partial strategy has been developed and implemented and is expected to achieve the Habitat Outcome 80 level of performance, i.e. the fishery is highly unlikely to reduce habitat structure and function to a point where Condition there would be serious or irreversible harm. In addition, by the 4th surveillance audit, the client must provide evidence to demonstrate that there is some objective basis for confidence that the partial strategy will work, based on information directly about the fishery and/or habitats involved.

• For the first annual surveillance audit, the client will have defined the terms of reference for the analysis of how existing measures achieve the Habitat Outcome 80 level of performance, i.e. the fishery is highly unlikely to reduce habitat structure and function to a point where there would be serious or irreversible harm and contracted a suitable scientist/group for the analysis. The milestone associated with the first surveillance audit has been defined as a means to monitor progress. Meeting this milestone would likely not result in a change in score at this surveillance audit. • For the second annual surveillance audit, the client will provide evidence that the analysis is underway, and provide a written report to update the Audit Team. The client will provide the identified measures and rationale supporting the agreement the partial strategy for ensuring Milestones that the shrimp fishery does not negatively impact habitats. The milestone associated with this surveillance audit has been defined as a means to monitor progress. Meeting this milestone would likely not result in a change in score at this surveillance audit. • For the third annual audit, the client will provide the full analysis as well as confirm the implementation of the partial strategy, if necessary, for the fishery to achieve the Habitat Outcome (PI 2.4.1) SG80 level of performance. Meeting this milestone should demonstrate that SG 80a has been met and would likely result in a score of 70 for this performance indicator. • By the fourth surveillance audit, the client will provide evidence to demonstrate that there is some objective basis for confidence that the partial strategy, if necessary, will work, based on information directly about the fishery and/or habitats involved. Meeting this milestone will demonstrate that all scoring issues of the SG 80 have been met and would result in a score of 80 for this performance indicator.

The Client working in conjunction with DFO as the resource manager and other stakeholders will: • Provide an analysis of potential requirements to change measures should this become necessary. Deliverables Client action plan First Annual Audit – The client will provide the written terms of reference to the analysis of how existing measures achieve the Habitat Outcome SG 80 level of performance, i.e. the fishery is highly unlikely to reduce habitat structure and function to a point where there would be serious or irreversible harm; evidence that a suitable contractor has been engaged; and, a brief synopsis of work to date. Second Annual Audit – The client will provide evidence that the analysis is underway, and provide a written report to update the Audit Team. Also, the client will identify, if necessary, measures supporting the partial strategy.

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Third Annual Audit - The client will provide the full analysis indicated above, as well as confirm the implementation of the partial strategy, if necessary, for the fishery to achieve the Habitat Outcome (PI 2.4.1) SG80 level of performance. Fourth Annual Audit - The client will provide evidence to demonstrate that there is a partial strategy, if necessary, in place that is designed to ensure the fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to habitat types and that there is some objective basis for confidence that the partial strategy will work, based on information directly about the fishery and/or habitats involved.

Client progress report (Savard 2015) The Client has engaged a knowledgeable consultant, the biologist formerly responsible for this fishery and recently retired, to lead work toward meeting Conditions. The Client progress report covers Conditions 1 and 2 in the same sections, since the milestones and work required to meet the Conditions are essentially the same. The Client conducted a preliminary assessment of the potential level of risk to sensitive benthic habitats and species from shrimp trawling, concluding that the risk level was moderate to high. The assessment was based on DFO’s Ecological Risk Assessment Framework for coldwater corals and sponge dominated communities (DFO 2013). Based on this assessment and the MSC requirements, the Client concluded that a partial strategy was indeed required to meet this PI. The progress report includes Terms of Reference for work to develop a partial strategy for protecting vulnerable habitats and species, which call for a more detailed assessment of risks of trawling, for development of regulatory and/or voluntary measures to manage risks, for consultation with industry on impacts of these measures, and for including the strategy in the IFMP. The progress report outlined the information sources available to support risk assessment and risk management measures. In the Team’s meeting with the client and DFO it was noted that recent publication of the DFO Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy (DFO 2015c) would help to guide activities, and that an upcoming CSAS review of distribution of sponge and coral areas (planned for January 2016) would provide more detailed and complete information than is currently available (a review by DFO 2010 has provided the information basis for sponge and coral impact assessments to date, but considerable new information has since become available). A cross-sectoral working group has recently been set up in DFO Québec Region to develop measures to protect sponge and coral habitats and species from fishing (all fisheries, not only the shrimp fishery). The Client noted that the detailed risk assessment to be conducted would be based on a finer-scale analysis of overlap between fished areas and habitats than in previous analyses, which were based on 10-min longitude by 10-min latitude grid squares. Many of the grid squares cover large changes Progress on in depth, such that both fished areas and sensitive habitats (at greater depths than the fishery) could Condition occur in a single square without effective overlap. [Year 1] The progress report noted, and it was confirmed in the meeting, that the activities had been planned in collaboration with DFO and that DFO is prepared to undertake the analyses and develop the strategy, with support from the client as necessary.

Audit Team Observations Based on the evidence presented, the Audit Team concludes that the Client and DFO continue to undertake a number of activities to assess and manage impacts of the fishery on sensitive habitats. A number of these had been noted in the Certification Report and further work has continued. We noted the recent appearance of a peer-reviewed publication assessing impacts of this fishery on benthic communities over 4, 10 and 20-year time horizons, which concluded that impacts were minimal over these time frames (Moritz et al 2015). Publication of the Coral-Sponge Conservation Strategy (DFO 2015c), the upcoming review of distribution of sponge and coral areas (January 2016), and the formation of a Québec Region Working Group on fishery impacts on sponge and coral areas (2015) are indications that the Region and the Department are taking this issue seriously and moving to improve risk assessment and management. The Team notes that DFO’s strategy for managing the impacts of fishing on benthic areas (DFO 2009) focuses on sensitive areas. While this seems appropriate as a first priority, the MSC standard requires consideration of impacts on all areas, not just sensitive areas. Accordingly, the partial strategy should also give consideration to impacts on non-sensitive habitats. Measures identified in the Certification Report are considered to ensure that the habitat outcome for PI 2.4.1 is 80 overall, so including non-sensitive areas in the habitat strategy should be possible. The first-year milestone has certainly been met - defining terms of reference for an analysis of fishery impacts on habitat and contracting an appropriate expert to conduct the analysis - and progress has gone beyond this in that the need for a strategy has been confirmed and the way forward to developing the strategy has been outlined. Information and personnel resources to develop the strategy are or soon will be in place.

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Client progress report (Savard 2016) The Client’s consultant provided both written and verbal reports which covered both conditions 1 and 2 in the same sections, since the milestones and work required to meet the two Conditions are essentially the same. At the first surveillance audit, the Client had conducted a preliminary assessment of the potential level of risk to sensitive benthic habitats and species from shrimp trawling, concluding that the risk level was moderate to high, and that a partial strategy was indeed required to meet this PI. At this second surveillance audit, the Client described the analysis that had taken place and the actions taken to move towards the implementation of a partial strategy. In 2015 DFO published its Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canada. Protecting these benthic species, which are integral parts of a healthy ecosystem, will be achieved through collaboration and integrated oceans management. Moreover, the Convention on Biological Diversity has led to the adoption in 2010 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The Canadian government is committed to achieve the targets of this plan which is to increase the proportion of protected areas to 5% of coastal and marine areas by 2017 and 10% of coastal and marine areas in 2020. A working group for the Quebec region was set up in September 2015 to implement the coral and sponge conservation strategy with an approach tailored to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The working group which includes the DFO fisheries manager for shrimp (B. Morin) and scientist in charge of the assessment of shrimp stocks (H. Bourdages) met five times in 2015 and twice in 2016. A work plan was developed and three major actions for the shrimp fishery were carried out in 2015-2016 consisting of 1) the update of the footprint of the shrimp fishery in the Gulf, 2) awareness of and consultation with members of the shrimp fishing industry and 3) the delimitation of areas important for corals and sponges in the Gulf. The plan is to implement the Strategy in 2017 following consultation with the different stakeholders on priority areas to conserve and on appropriate conservation and management measures. In relation to action 1, the most recent data from research surveys and fisheries were discussed at the workshop on the evaluation of the shrimp fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence held on January 21, 2016 in Mont-Joli. The results indicate that the northern shrimp is distributed over more than 95 000 km2 in the estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence but that 95% of the biomass is distributed over Progress on less than half the area (45 000 km2). Condition Approximately 6,400 km2 of seabed is trawled annually and 47% of the fishing effort is deployed in [Year 2] an area of 1,850 km2. This information allows an analysis of potential overlap of shrimp fishing with sensitive habitats. The overlap of the footprint of fishing on the coral and sponges’ distribution area varies by taxa. In general, the encroachment of shrimp fishing on corals and sponges is minimal except for three Pennatula spp. for which fishing activities overlap respectively 11.2%, 26.4 % and 14.0% of the estimated biomass DFO survey. In relation to action 2, the Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy and plans for its implementation in the region were presented at the last meeting (Quebec, February 3, 2016) of the Consultative Committee of the shrimp fishery in the Estuary and Gulf (CCCEG). The implementation plan was presented with a clear agenda for achieving the objectives through consulting on areas for which conservation and management measures are required and on the will to implement appropriate measures. These discussions served to sensitize stakeholders to the importance of adopting mitigation measures to minimize the impact of fishing. A strategy for the shrimp fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to ensure that fishing does not constitute a risk of causing serious or irreversible damage to habitats and important benthic areas was discussed. The strategy has two major issues for the industry - the realization of research and development on the shrimp trawls to reduce impacts to benthic habitats and ecosystems and implementing management measures and / or mitigation measures related to concentrations of corals and sponges. In relation to action 3, a scientific workshop was held on the demarcation of significant concentrations of corals and sponges, and the likelihood of their occurrence, in the Atlantic waters (including the Gulf of Saint Lawrence) and the Eastern Arctic was held in March 2016. The purpose of the workshop was to clarify the delimitation of important areas of corals and sponges, as well as fishing activities in regard to these important areas in order to implement the Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy. Two key documents have already been published from this meeting:

Murillo, F.J., Kenchington, E., Beazley, L., Lirette, C., Knudby, A., Guijarro, J., Benoît, H., Bourdages, H., Sainte-Marie, B. 2016. Distribution Modelling of Sea Pens, Sponges, Stalked Tunicates and Soft Corals from Research Vessel Survey Data in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for Use in the Identification of Significant Benthic Areas. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3170: vi + 132 p. http://waves- vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/364125.pdf

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Kenchington, E., Lirette, C., Murillo, F.J., Beazley, L., Guijarro, J., Wareham, V., Gilkinson, K., Koen Alonso, M., Benoît, H., Bourdages, H., Sainte-Marie, B., Treble, M., Siferd, T. 2016. Kernel Density Analyses of Coral and Sponge Catches from Research Vessel Survey Data for Use in Identification of Significant Benthic Areas. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3167: viii+207p.

In addition, at last year’s surveillance audit, the Client was requested to consider the impacts on all areas and not just those that are sensitive. In a recently-published paper, Moritz et al. (2015) did not detect any significant effect of the shrimp fishery on the species richness over the short (4 years), medium (10 years) and long term (20 years). They suggest that benthic communities have achieved a balance that was established after the first disturbance by the first trawling activities for roundfish and shrimp that occurred decades ago in the Gulf. They concluded that current trawling activities have little or no impact on the habitat and the communities they support.

Moritz C., D. Gravel, L. Savard, C. W. McKindsey, J.-C. Brêthes, and P. Archambault. 2015. No more detectable fishing effect on Northern Gulf of St Lawrence benthic invertebrates. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 72 (8): 2457-2466

In summary, DFO have concluded that high concentrations of sea pens and sponges are found on the outskirts of the traditional fishing grounds. It is possible that an overlap between fisheries and these vulnerable species occurs and there was a risk that fishing causes serious or irreversible damage to vulnerable habitats and sensitive benthic communities. A strategy is needed to coordinate formally actions to avoid sensitive habitats and important benthic areas, and DFO has announced that it would proceed to the implementation of protective measures or mitigation in 2017, in line with DFO’s target to increase the proportion of protected areas to 5% of coastal and marine areas by 2017. Audit Team Observations The Client has continued to engage Louse Savard as a consultant to lead the work toward meeting the Conditions. The consultant is a retired biologist who was formerly responsible for this fishery and is therefore highly knowledgeable in relation to all aspects of the shrimp fishery. In consultation with DFO staff, B. Morin and H. Bourdages (Science). the consultant provided a detailed written report of work carried out since the first surveillance audit, and presented the information to the team by telephone link-up during the audit meeting in Quebec.

The audit team acknowledged the opinion of DFO and the Client that there are already a number of measures in place which would contribute towards a partial strategy – fishing effort is restricted through licenses, seasonal closures, quotas, and the observation that fishing is restricted to a small proportion of the total area of distribution of shrimp, and shrimp vessels do not tend to fish in sensitive areas. In addition, monitoring through log books, VMS and observers allows identification of any change in fishing area which might change the nature of the impact of the shrimp fishery on sensitive habitats.

The audit team recognised the significant progress made since the last surveillance audit in developing and implementing a partial strategy to ensure that the fishery is highly unlikely to reduce habitat structure and function to a point where there would be serious or irreversible harm.

Firstly, the most recent data from the fishery and survey have been processed to define the exact footprint of fishing to identify any areas of potential overlap between the fishery and the high concentrations of sensitive species.

Secondly, a scientific workshop has been held on the demarcation of significant concentrations of corals and sponges, and the likelihood of their occurrence, in the Atlantic waters including the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and how these might overlap with the shrimp fishery. Two new documents were published in 2016.

Thirdly a working group has been set up to consider the implementation of the DFO Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy within the region and has met several times with the aim of consulting with stakeholders in the region and implementing the strategy within the region by 2017.

Fourthly discussions have been held with industry stakeholders to advise them of the need to protect sensitive areas and to consider what management measures might be needed to protect these areas.

The second-year milestone has certainly been met as the required analysis is underway, industry stakeholders have been consulted on the measures that are required to ensure that the fishery is

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highly unlikely to reduce habitat structure and function to a point where there would be serious or irreversible harm, and the partial strategy is planned to be implemented in 2017.

Client progress report (Savard 2017) At the second audit, the audit team acknowledged the opinion of DFO and the Client that there are already management measures that constitute the basis of the partial strategy to restrain impacts of the fishery on habitat structure and function and on benthic biodiversity and community elements of the ecosystem. Indeed, fishing effort is restricted through licenses, seasonal closures and catch limits. Moreover, fishing is restricted to a small proportion of the total area of distribution of shrimp, and shrimp vessels do not tend to fish in sensitive areas. In addition, monitoring through log books, VMS and observers allows identification of any change in fishing area which might change the nature of the impact of the shrimp fishery on benthic communities. Finally, the Integrated Fishery Management Plan (IFMP) for the shrimp fishery in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) has been finalized and includes management objectives specifically designed to minimize the impacts of fishing on the ecosystem (DFO, 2016b). The implementation of the partial strategy to ensure that the fishery is highly unlikely to impact on habitat structure and function as well as on benthic biodiversity and community elements of the ecosystem will be fully completed in 2018. The strategy is based on the following findings: 1. Northern shrimp is mainly found at depths varying between 200 and 300 m (Savard and Nozères 2012) where bottom sediments are thin and consolidated (Dutil et al. 2011) and, where natural perturbations have little impact. This deep-water habitat type is less favourable to the establishment of highly diversified benthic communities (Lévesque et al. 2010). For more details, see the first audit report. 2. The maximum annual footprint of fishing (6,400 km²; DFO 2016a) represents less than 7% of all habitat types deeper than 150 m in the GSL (95,213 km²; Dutil et al. 2011) leaving most of the area unperturbed by the fishery. For more details, see the second audit report. 3. Some sponge and soft coral concentrations are found in certain areas in the EGSL, at the boundaries of fishing grounds (DFO, 2017c). Preliminary analyses (DFO, 2012) showed that there is a moderate to high risk that fishing overlaps with some vulnerable habitats where sensitive species such as sponges and soft corals are found. A more detailed analysis was made in 2015 and the same conclusions were reached. For more details, see the first audit Progress on report. Condition The partial strategy has already been presented to the stakeholders of the shrimp fishing industry [Year 3] (see the 2017 Estuary and Gulf Shrimp Advisory Committee (EGSAC) proceedings) and will be included in the EGSL shrimp IFMP. The partial strategy to restrain impacts of the fishery on habitat structure and function and on benthic biodiversity and community elements of the ecosystem has four main elements: 1. The protection of the unperturbed habitat by the application of management measures that limit the fishing effort; 2. The protection of the habitat where northern shrimp is found by encouraging the industry to undertake research and development activities related to the fishing gears to reduce their impacts on benthic habitats; 3. The protection of the vulnerable habitats and sensitive species by the implementation of the Canadian Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy; 4. The evaluation of the strategy by the monitoring of the fishing activities (VMS, log-books, at- sea observers) in relation to the distribution of northern shrimp, corals and sponges from DFO surveys. Element 1 has already been implemented through management measures and regulations. Element 2 has already been included in the Strategic Research Plan (see the IFMP - DFO, 2016b) with research initiatives from ACPG-Innovation (https://www.acpgaspesie.com/acpg-innovation/) e.g. the development of mid-water doors (ACPG made a presentation at the 2016 advisory committee meeting; see the proceeding of the meeting) and, from the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources of Memorial University (https://www.mi.mun.ca/departments/centreforsustainableaquaticresources/) e.g. M.Sc. and Ph.D. projects on bottom trawl technologies. The monitoring of the fishing activities in Element 4 is included in the Conservation Harvesting Plan (https://inter-l01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/applications/opti-opei/notice-avis-detail- eng.php?pub_id=1109&todo=view&type=1®ion_id=4&sub_type_id=5&species=702&area=1858) and is required in the licence conditions, while the summer survey is part of DFO annual work plan (Bourdages et al., 2017). Moreover, the Strategic Research Plan includes research projects on benthic communities, including sponges and soft corals.

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Element 3 of the partial strategy will be completed in 2018 with the implementation of the Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canada 2015 (http://www.dfo- mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/cs-ce/page03-eng.html). It has been decided to develop a global strategy that would apply to all types of fishing and not only to shrimp bottom trawls. This global approach guarantees the success of the strategy but implies more consultations with different fishing industry stakeholders. Much work towards the implementation of the Strategy have been made since the last audit as follows: 1. Following a DFO national scientific workshop held in 2016, a scientific advisory report was published in 2017 aiming at the delineation of significant areas of coral and sponge communities and their overlap with fishing activity in Canadian Atlantic and Eastern Arctic Marine Waters, including the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (DFO, 2107c). The highlights of the report are the following: • A Significant Benthic Area is a regional habitat that contains sponges (Porifera), large and small gorgonian corals (Alcyonacea, formerly classed as Gorgonacea) and/or sea pens (Pennatulacea) as a dominant and defining feature. • A Sensitive Benthic Area is a Significant Benthic Area that is vulnerable to a proposed or ongoing fishing activity. Candidate Sensitive Benthic Areas were identified based on the co-occurrence of fishing effort with a Significant Benthic Area. Vulnerability is determined based on the level of harm that the fishing activity may have on the benthic area by degrading ecosystem functions or impairing productivity. • For most biogeographic units, a low proportion of Significant Benthic Areas was overlapped by fishing activity from the highest intensity percentile class, and increasing proportions of Significant Benthic Area are overlapped by less intense percentile classes of fishing activity. This appears to indicate that Significant Benthic Areas are not part of main fishing areas (i.e. areas with highly aggregated activities) in the Scotian Shelf, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Newfoundland and Labrador biogeographic units. 2. A DFO regional (Québec region) working group has been set up in 2016 to consider the implementation of the DFO Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Up to now, the working group has met seven times between September 2016 and May 2017. The highlights of the discussions are as follows: • The implementation of the Strategy necessitates a risk analysis of human activities on coral and sponge concentration areas (and not only shrimp fishing). • In the EGSL bioregion, the area covered by the significant concentrations of sponges represents 13,610 km² while it is 17,637 km² for the soft corals. For both species, significant concentrations represent 13.5% of the total bioregion area. • Fishing gears that are in contact with the sea bottom (not only bottom trawl) correspond to the main activity that threatens coral and sponge communities. • DFO considers, among other measures, to close certain areas to any fishing activity. Before implementing any measures, DFO Québec region, in collaboration with the Gulf and the Newfoundland and Labrador regions, has prepared the consultations on the 20 areas where significant concentrations of corals and sponges have been identified (see the map below). A web site on Consultation on Coral and Sponge Conservation Measures has been created (http://www.qc.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/golfe-gulf/coraux-eng.html) and a guide to be used for the consultations has been prepared (http://www.qc.dfo- mpo.gc.ca/golfe-gulf/20161004_Guide%20de%20consultation_V6-en.pdf). • The comments obtained from the fishery industry stakeholders will be used to select areas to be conserved and adjust their boundaries to meet conservation targets while minimizing impacts on the fisheries. • The analysis of the information collected during the consultations has already begun and the regional working group has been developing scenarios of significant concentrations to be protected. 3. Extensive consultations have been made by DFO on the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence target sensitive areas to be protected while minimizing the economic impact on the fisheries. • Up to now, 28 consultation sessions and 15 information sessions were held between November 2016 and April 2017. • Areas chosen for coral and sponge conservation may be included in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network for the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence Bioregion, which is currently at the planning stage. Coral and sponge conservation will contribute to meet Canada’s commitments to increase the amount of its marine and coastal areas that are protected to 5% by 2017 and 10% by 2020 and to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems according to the United Nations Resolution on Sustainable Fisheries. • The deadline for the fishing industry to send their comments was April 28, 2017. DFO intends to get back to the fishing industry stakeholders and the First nations with a

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formal proposal on the coral and sponge conservation strategy at the beginning of summer 2017. Distribution of bottom gear fishing activities estimated as the average annual landed value and significant concentrations of soft corals (sea pens) and sponges in the EGSL.

Significant progress has been made towards meeting Condition 1: A partial strategy has been elaborated and is designed to ensure that the fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to habitat types and to ecosystem structure and function; • The habitats and benthic communities that are not perturbed by shrimp fishing are protected by the fact that the target species is not found on those grounds and by the application of management measures that would restrain any uncontrolled increase of fishing effort; • Ongoing research and development activities on fishing gears will provide alternatives to bottom trawls in the medium to long-term future and therefore, will restrain the impact of shrimp fishing on exploited grounds; • Vulnerable habitats and sensitive species that are found on the boundaries of the shrimp fishing grounds will be protected by the implementation of the Canadian Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy. It is believed that the partial strategy as designed will ensure the protection of the habitat types and the ecosystem structure and function because: • The shallow-water habitats that are favourable to the establishment of highly diversified benthic communities are not perturbed by shrimp fishing. The risk of posing a harm by shrimp fishing is negligible; • The deep-water habitat type where shrimp are found, is less favourable to the establishment of highly diversified benthic communities. Moreover, shrimp fishing grounds cover less than 7% of all habitat types deeper than 150 m. The risk of posing a harm to these types of habitat and the benthic communities that they sustain is not significant, considering that 93% of the area is unperturbed by shrimp fishing. The development of seabed friendly bottom trawls will further reduce the impact of shrimp fishing. At present there is ongoing work in Quebec on the development of mid-water trawls for shrimp, which would minimize the impact on the seabed, and Memorial University of Newfoundland has an ongoing project on more environmentally-friendly bottom trawls. There are however currently no new mandatory requirements for trawls in the shrimp fishery; • Additional protection will be given to vulnerable habitats and sensitive species. The risk of posing a harm by fishing will be reduced to negligible.

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The partial strategy will be fully operational in the next months when DFO implements the Canadian Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. The partial strategy will be then included in the EGSL shrimp integrated fishery management plan. Audit team observations During the course of the audit DFO published their selected site list for proposed coral and sponge conservation - see Appendix 3. DFO have set a deadline of July 21st 2017 for comments and questions on their selections. A final decision on the selected sites is expected at the end of August and they will be implemented in 2018 (B. Morin, DFO, pers. comm.). The conservation measures implemented in the selected sites will prohibit the use of all bottom-contact fishing gear, including, bottom trawls, dredges, gillnets, bottom longlines, bottom seining and traps. The assessment team noted that there are significant areas of sponge aggregations on the western coast of Newfoundland for which there appear to be no proposed sites for coral and sponge conservation. DFO confirmed however that consultations in relation to these areas is still ongoing. The milestone for this year’s audit requires the client to provide evidence of the full analysis of whether existing measures achieve the Habitat Outcome 80 level of performance, i.e. the fishery is highly unlikely to reduce habitat structure and function to a point where there would be serious or irreversible harm and, if necessary, confirm the implementation of a partial strategy to achieve this. The client has provided evidence at this, and previous audits, of an analysis of existing measures that help mitigate the effect of the fishery on habitats and has also highlighted the need for additional measures, particularly with regard to vulnerable and sensitive habitats and species. This has resulted in the development of a strategy to mitigate risk and help protect these habitat and species from all fishing activity. Multiple meetings of the DFO Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy working group and consultations on measures for the conservation of coral and sponge habitats have been conducted in this reporting period. The outcomes from these initiatives have been analysed and proposed selected sites have recently been published to inform the practical operational aspects of a Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy when it is implemented in 2018. Because the strategy has not yet been implemented, the full requirements of this year’s milestone have not been met. However, the team consider that progress on the strategy has been very good and, with implementation anticipated in the next few months, it is appropriate to revise the milestone such that this year’s implementation component is carried over into next year’s auditing period. This means the milestone for next year is revised to: By the 4th surveillance audit, the client must provide evidence that a partial strategy has been implemented; demonstrate that there is some objective basis for confidence that the partial strategy will work, based on information directly about the fishery and/or habitats involved; and, provide evidence that the partial strategy is being implemented successfully. Achieving these requirements will result in a revised score of ≥ 80.

The client is behind target in meeting this year’s milestone. However, the delay in implementing the strategy has been caused primarily by the development of a strategy that covers all fishing activities, and not just shrimp fishing, which has necessitated much wider consultation with stakeholders. The Status of audit team has recognized this increased requirement for consultation and has amended the condition milestones for this condition to take account of the imminent implementation of the Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy. Milestones have been revised. However, the client is still required to meet the condition by the fourth annual audit. There is no revision of the score and the condition remains on target against the revised milestone.

4.3 Condition 2

PI number Scoring Guidepost Text Score • There is a partial strategy in place, if necessary.

• The partial strategy takes into Performance 2.5.2 account available information and 60 Indicator & Score is expected to restrain impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem so as to achieve the Ecosystem Outcome 80 level of performance.

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• The partial strategy is considered likely to work, based on plausible argument (e.g., general experience, theory or comparison with similar fisheries/ecosystems). • There is some evidence that the measures comprising the partial strategy are being implemented successfully.

By the 4th surveillance audit, the client must provide evidence that a partial strategy has been developed and successfully implemented which takes into account available information and is expected to restrain impacts of the fishery on the benthic biodiversity Condition and communities elements of the ecosystem so as to achieve the Ecosystem Outcome 80 level of performance.

The client must provide evidence to demonstrate that the partial strategy, if necessary, is considered likely to work, based on plausible argument (e.g., general experience, theory or comparison with similar fisheries/ecosystems). • By the first annual audit, the client must provide a written report of activities to identify whether measures in place are adequate such that the shrimp fishery does not negatively impact benthic biodiversity and communities. If it is concluded that a partial strategy is needed, the client will report on what additional measures are being considered. The milestone associated with the first surveillance audit has been defined as a means to monitor progress, meeting the milestone would likely not result in a change in score at this surveillance audit. • By the second annual surveillance audit, the Client will provide evidence, if necessary, that measures have been identified and agreed that will comprise the partial strategy for ensuring that the shrimp fishery does not negatively impact benthic biodiversity and communities. The milestone associated with the second surveillance audit has been defined as a means to monitor progress, meeting the milestone would likely not result in a change in score at this surveillance audit. Milestones • By the third surveillance audit, the client will provide evidence that a partial strategy has been successfully implemented that takes into account available information and is expected to restrain impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem so as to achieve the Ecosystem outcome defined in the SG80 of PI 2.5.1, i.e. The fishery is highly unlikely to disrupt the key elements underlying ecosystem structure and function to a point where there would be a serious or irreversible harm. Meeting this milestone should demonstrate that SG 80b and 80d have been met and would likely result in a score of 70 for this performance indicator. • By the fourth surveillance audit, the client will provide evidence to demonstrate that the partial strategy, if necessary, is considered likely to work, based on plausible argument (e.g., general experience, theory or comparison with similar fisheries/ecosystems). Meeting this milestone will demonstrate that all scoring issues of the SG 80 have been met and would result in a score of 80 for this performance indicator.

The client, working in conjunction with DFO as the resource manager and other stakeholders, will: • Develop an appropriate partial strategy re. non-catch impacts on benthic biodiversity and community structure. The potential impacts of the fishery on these ecosystem components will be considered and if necessary measures put in place to address potential impacts; Client action plan • Ensure a partial strategy based on available information is in place to ensure that impacts on benthic biodiversity and community structure are within acceptable limits; and • Ensure a partial strategy is in place to manage non-catch impacts on benthic biodiversity and community structure. Deliverables First Annual Audit – The client will provide a written report of activities, by a suitable contractor, to identify whether measures in place are adequate such that the shrimp fishery does not negatively impact benthic biodiversity and communities. If it is concluded that a

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partial strategy is needed, the client will report on what additional measures are being considered. Second Annual Audit – If a partial strategy is found necessary, the client will develop an appropriate partial strategy re. non-catch impacts on benthic biodiversity and community structure. The potential impacts of the fishery on these ecosystem components will be considered and if necessary measures put in place to address potential impacts. Third Annual Audit - DFO will apply the Ecological Risk Assessment Framework identified within it's Policy for Managing the Impacts of Fishing on Sensitive Benthic Areas and the client will provide written evidence to confirm a partial strategy, based on available information, is in place to ensure that impacts on benthic biodiversity and community structure are within acceptable limits. Fourth Surveillance Audit - The client will provide evidence to confirm a partial strategy is in place to manage non-catch impacts on benthic biodiversity and community structure; and that the partial strategy is considered likely to work, based on plausible argument.

Client progress report (Savard 2015) As noted above (Progress on Condition 1), the Client has engaged a knowledgeable consultant to lead work toward meeting conditions. The Client progress report treated both Conditions 1 (habitat strategy) and 2 (ecosystem strategy) together, since milestones and work required are essentially the same. The Client progress report provided a review of information available on impact of the fishery on benthic species and communities, and conducted a preliminary risk analysis based on DFO’s ERAF for coldwater corals and sponge dominated communities (DFO 2013). They concluded that risk was moderate to high, and that development of a strategy to manage risks was required. A number of regulatory and voluntary measures which might be considered to manage risks was identified in the report. The progress report provided Terms of Reference for work to conduct a more detailed risk analysis and to develop a strategy to manage risk to benthic communities from shrimp trawling. Several recent or planned activities will support this work: publication of DFO’s Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canada (DFO 2015c), an upcoming (January 2016) CSAS review of distribution of sponge and coral areas in eastern Canada, incorporating information obtained since the last such review (DFO 2010), and recent formation of a cross-sectoral working group in DFO Québec Region to assess and manage Progress on risks to sensitive bottom habitats from all fisheries. Condition [Year The Client report noted, and this was confirmed in the Team’s meeting with the Client and 1] DFO, that activities toward developing a strategy to manage risk to sensitive benthic communities had been developed in consultation with DFO and that DFO was prepared to undertake development of the strategy, with support from the Client as needed. Audit Team Observations As with Condition 1 (see above) the Team concludes that work to assess and manage risk to sensitive benthic communities (which had been started at the time of publication of the Certification Report) is continuing, and that this will be adequate to support development of a strategy to manage fishery impacts on benthic communities. In addition to the recent developments noted above, we noted the recent publication of an assessment of fishery impact on benthic species which concluded that impacts had been relatively small over time frames of 4, 10 and 20 years (Moritz et al. 2015). Also, as with Condition 1 (see above), the Team encourages the Client to consider impacts to non-sensitive as well as sensitive benthic communities, since the MSC standard requires that harm to all communities (not just those identified as sensitive) not be serious or irreversible. Overall the Team concludes that the Client has made substantial progress toward meeting the Condition, and that progress has gone beyond what was required by the Year 1 milestone.

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The Client’s consultant provided both written and verbal reports which covered both conditions 1 and 2 in the same sections, since the milestones and work required to meet the two Conditions are essentially the same. At the first surveillance audit, the Client had conducted a preliminary assessment of the potential level of risk to the ecosystem from shrimp trawling, concluding that the risk level was moderate to high, and that a partial strategy was indeed required to meet this PI. At this second surveillance audit, the Client described the analysis that had taken place and the actions taken to move towards the implementation of a partial strategy. The Convention on Biological Diversity has led to the adoption in 2010 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The Canadian government is committed to achieve the targets of this plan which is to increase the proportion of protected areas to 5% of coastal and marine areas by 2017 and 10% of coastal and marine areas in 2020. In addition, in 2015 DFO published its Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canada. Protecting these benthic species, which are integral parts of a healthy ecosystem, will be achieved through collaboration and integrated oceans management. A working group for the Quebec region was set up in September 2015 primarily to implement the coral and sponge conservation strategy with an approach tailored to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but approaches taken by the group will provide a strategy to ensure that the shrimp fishery does not impact on benthic biodiversity and community structure. The working group met five times in 2015 and twice in 2016. A work plan was developed and three major actions for the shrimp fishery were carried out in 2015-2016 consisting of 1) the update of the footprint of the shrimp fishery in the Gulf, 2) awareness of and consultation with members of the shrimp fishing industry and 3) the delimitation of areas important for corals and sponges in the Gulf. The plan is to implement the Strategy in 2017 following consultation with the different stakeholders on priority areas to conserve and on appropriate conservation and management measures. As noted above for Condition 1, three major actions have been completed since the last surveillance audit. Firstly, the most recent data from research surveys and the distribution of the shrimp fishery was analysed to allow an analysis of potential overlap of shrimp Progress on fishing with all types of habitats. Secondly discussions were held with stakeholders on the Condition [Year importance of adopting mitigation measures to minimize the impact of fishing, and a 2] strategy for the shrimp fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to ensure that fishing does not constitute a risk of causing serious or irreversible damage to habitats and important benthic areas was discussed. Thirdly a scientific workshop was held on the demarcation of significant concentrations of corals and sponges, and the likelihood of their occurrence, in the Atlantic waters (including the Gulf of Saint Lawrence). Two key documents have already been published from this meeting. At last year’s surveillance audit, the Client was requested to consider the impacts on all areas and not just those that are sensitive. In a recently-published paper, Moritz et al. (2015) did not detect any significant effect of the shrimp fishery on the species richness over the short (4 years), medium (10 years) and long term (20 years). They suggest that benthic communities have achieved a balance that was established after the first disturbance by the first trawling activities for roundfish and shrimp that occurred decades ago in the Gulf. They concluded that current trawling activities have little or no impact on the habitat and the communities they support. In addition, a study was published in 2016 aimed at identifying ecologically or biologically “significant” areas in the Gulf of St Lawrence (Rondeau et al., 2016). Areas are considered ecologically or biologically “significant” because of the functions that they serve in the ecosystem and/or because of structural properties. Identifying Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA) is a tool for calling attention to an area that has particularly high ecological or biological significance, to facilitate provision of a greater-than-usual degree of risk aversion in management of activities in these areas. DFO has concluded that a strategy is needed to formally coordinate actions to avoid damage to sensitive habitats and important benthic areas, and DFO has announced that it would proceed to the implementation of protective measures or mitigation in 2017, in line with DFO’s target to increase the proportion of protected areas to 5% of coastal and marine areas by 2017.

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The integrated fisheries management plan (IFMP) for shrimps in the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence has been finalized since the audit of 2015 and distributed to all members of CCCEG. The IFMP lists the main objectives and challenges specific to the shrimp fishery in the Gulf. The impact of fishing on the ecosystem has been identified as a key issue with management objectives specifically designed to minimize the impacts of fishing on the ecosystem. Audit Team Observations The Client has continued to engage Louse Savard as a consultant to lead the work toward meeting the Conditions. In consultation with DFO staff, B. Morin and H. Bourdages (Science). the consultant provided a detailed written report of work carried out since the first surveillance audit, and presented the information to the team by telephone link-up during the audit meeting in Quebec. The audit team acknowledged the opinion of DFO and the Client that there are already a number of measures in place which would contribute towards a partial strategy – fishing effort is restricted through licenses, seasonal closures, quotas, and the observation that fishing is restricted to a small proportion of the total area of distribution of shrimp, and shrimp vessels do not tend to fish in sensitive areas. In addition, monitoring through log books, VMS and observers allows identification of any change in fishing area which might change the nature of the impact of the shrimp fishery on benthic communities.

The audit team recognised the significant progress made since the last surveillance audit in developing and implementing a partial strategy to ensure that the fishery is highly unlikely to impact on the benthic biodiversity and communities elements of the ecosystem. The most recent data from the fishery and survey have been processed to define the exact footprint of fishing to identify any areas of potential overlap between the fishery and the various benthic communities, and discussions have been held with industry stakeholders to advise them of the need to protect sensitive areas and to consider what management measures might be needed to ensure that the shrimp fishery does not impact benthic communities. The IFMP for the shrimp fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has been finalized since the audit of 2015 and includes management objectives specifically designed to minimize the impacts of fishing on the ecosystem. In a recently-published paper, Moritz et al. (2015) did not detect any significant effect of the shrimp fishery on the species richness over the short (4 years), medium (10 years) and long term (20 years). The milestone for the second annual surveillance audit is that the Client will provide evidence, if necessary, that measures have been identified and agreed that will comprise the partial strategy for ensuring that the shrimp fishery does not negatively impact benthic biodiversity and communities. At the 1st surveillance audit, the Client and DFO had confirmed that a partial strategy was necessary. As with Condition 1 (see above) the Team concludes that significant progress to assess and manage risk to sensitive benthic communities has been made since the first surveillance audit, and accepts that this will be adequate to support development of a strategy to manage fishery impacts on benthic communities to meet Condition 2. Whilst there are already a number of measures in place such as limitations on fishing effort through licenses, closed season, quotas and the very restricted area in which the shrimp fishery is distributed, and DFO have consulted widely with stakeholders on developing and implementing the measures that will constitute a partial strategy, it cannot be concluded that measures have been identified and agreed that will comprise the partial strategy for ensuring that the shrimp fishery does not negatively impact benthic biodiversity and communities. The condition is therefore behind target.

Client progress Condition 1 and 2 are directly linked and the actions taken are intended to deliver the required outcomes of both. The client provided a written update on progress for Condition 1 and 2, this is set out above under Condition 1, in the “Progress on Condition 1 [Year 3]” section. Progress on Condition [Year During the course of the audit DFO published their selected site list for proposed coral and sponge conservation - see Appendix 3. DFO have set a deadline of July 21st 2017 for 3] comments and questions on their selections. A final decision on the selected sites is expected at the end of August and they will be implemented in 2018 (B. Morin, DFO, pers. comm.). The conservation measures implemented in the selected sites will prohibit the use of all bottom-contact fishing gear, including bottom trawls, dredges, gillnets, bottom longlines, bottom seining and traps. The assessment team noted that there are significant areas of sponge aggregations on the western coast of Newfoundland for which there

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appear to be no proposed sites for coral and sponge conservation. DFO confirmed however that consultations in relation to these areas is still ongoing.

Audit Team Observations Last year’s audit concluded that progress against meeting the condition was behind target, as measures that comprise the partial strategy had not been identified and agreed. Despite good progress, the situation is similar at this year’s audit. Since the last audit, multiple meetings of the DFO Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy working group and consultations on measures for the conservation of coral and sponge habitats have been undertaken (28 consultation meetings and 15 information sessions between November 2016 and April 2017). The outcomes from these initiatives have recently been published (see Appendix 3) and a plan for implementation in 2018 has been set out. The audit team recognise the scope of the Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy covers all fishing activity within the GSL, and so DFO have had to consult with all fleet sectors and interested parties and so the exercise in developing and implementing the strategy has been extensive and, no doubt, challenging. The audit team consider that progress on the strategy has been excellent and, with only a few further steps to take before implementation, it is appropriate to revise the condition milestone such that at the 4th annual audit the client is required to provide evidence that: • A partial strategy is in place; • The partial strategy takes into account available information and is expected to restrain impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem such that the shrimp fishery is highly unlikely to disrupt the key elements underlying ecosystem structure and function to a point where would be serious or irreversible harm; • The partial strategy is considered likely to work based on plausible argument (e.g., general experience, theory or comparison with similar fisheries/ecosystems); and, • There is some evidence that the measures comprising the partial strategy are being implemented successfully. Achieving these requirements will result in a revised score of ≥ 80. The client is behind target in meeting this year’s milestone. However, the audit team have amended the milestones for this condition to take account of the imminent implementation Status of of the Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy. Milestones have been revised. However, condition the client is still required to meet the condition by the fourth annual audit. There is no revision of the score and the condition remains on target against the revised milestone.

4.4 Condition 3

Scoring Issue / Scoring PI number Score Guidepost text • A research plan provides the management system with a Performance strategic approach to research and Indicator & Score 3.2.4 reliable and timely information 70 sufficient to achieve the objectives consistent with MSC’s Principles 1 and 2.

By the 2nd surveillance audit the client must provide evidence that a documented and Condition approved research plan has been completed to provide the management system with a strategic approach to research, and reliable and timely information sufficient to achieve the objectives consistent with both MSC Principle 1 and Principle 2. • By the first annual surveillance audit, the client will provide a draft strategic research Milestones plan that is required to achieve the objectives consistent with MSC Principles 1 and 2. The milestone associated with the first surveillance audit has been defined as a

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means to monitor progress, meeting the milestone would likely not result in a change in score at this surveillance audit. • By the second annual surveillance audit, the client will provide evidence that the documented strategic research plan required to achieve the objectives consistent with MSC Principles 1 and 2 has been completed and adopted. Meeting this milestone will demonstrate that all scoring issues of the SG 80 have been met and would result in a score of 80 for this performance indicator.

By the first annual surveillance audit, the client, working with DFO and other stakeholders (ex. Catch sector, research institutes, provinces) will prepare a draft strategic research Client action plan plan to achieve the objectives consistent with MSC Principles 1 and 2.

By the second annual surveillance audit, the research plan will be integrated in the Gulf shrimp IFMP. Status of This condition was closed out at the second audit in 2016. condition

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5 Conclusion

5.2 Summary of findings The audit team confirms that Condition 1 and 2 are on target against the revised milestones. The Audit Team conclude that the fishery remains certified.

NB - The fourth anniversary of the fisheries certification is 19th March 2018. The MSC state that re- assessment of the fishery should commence by the fourth surveillance audit. Re-assessment is estimated to take at least 12 months. Therefore, it is recommended that re-assessment commences by March 2018 to allow the fishery to be in a position to maintain continuity of certification. The re-assessment will be against v2.0 of the MSC Certification Requirements.

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6 References

Bourdages, H., Brassard, C., Desgagnés, M., Galbraith, P., Gauthier, J., Légaré, B., Nozères, C. and Parent, E., 2017. Preliminary results from the groundfish and shrimp multidisciplinary survey in August 2016 in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2017/002. v + 87 p. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/ResDocs-DocRech/2017/2017_002- eng.pdf DFO, 2012. Assessment of the impact of northern shrimp trawling on benthic habitats communities in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/054. http://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/347543.pdf DFO, 2016a. Assessment of northern shrimp stocks in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2015. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Science Advisory Report 2016/012. DFO, 2016b. Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Northern Shrimp in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 8, 9, 10, 12): 69 p. DFO, 2017a. Notice to Fish Harvesters – Conservation Harvest Plan Season 2017 https://inter-l01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/applications/opti-opei/notice-avis-detail- eng.php?pub_id=1109&todo=view&type=1®ion_id=4&sub_type_id=5&species=702&area=1858 DFO, 2017b. Update of stock status indicators: DFO. 2017. Update of Stock Status Indicators for Northern Shrimp in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2017/008. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/ScR-RS/2017/2017_008-eng.pdf DFO, 2017c. Delineation of Significant Areas of Coldwater Corals and Sponge-Dominated Communities in Canada's Atlantic and Eastern Arctic Marine Waters and their Overlap with Fishing Activity. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2017/007. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas- sccs/Publications/SAR-AS/2017/2017_007-eng.pdf Dutil, J.-D., Proulx, S., Chouinard, P.-M., and Borcard, D., 2011. A hierarchical classification of the seabed based on physiographic and oceanographic features in the St. Lawrence. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2916: vii+ 72 pp. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/342703.pdf EGSAC, 2016. Minutes of the 2016 Estuary and Gulf Shrimp Advisory Committee, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, February 2 & 3, 2016. EGSAC, 2017. Minutes of the 2017 Estuary and Gulf Shrimp Advisory Committee, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, February 1 & 2, 2017. Lévesque, M., P. Archambault, C. W. McKindsey, S. Vaz, and D. Archambault, 2010. Predictive benthic habitat suitability model for the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (2006). Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2893: vii + 20 pp. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/341092.pdf Savard, L. et C. Nozères, 2012. Atlas des crevettes de l’estuaire et du nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. Tech. Can. Sci. Halieu. Aquat. 3007 : vi+67 p. http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/mpo-dfo/Fs97-6-3007.pdf

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Appendix 1 – Re-scoring evaluation tables Not applicable

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Appendix 2 - Stakeholder submissions No stakeholder submissions received.

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Appendix 3 - Surveillance audit information DFO selected sites proposed for coral and sponge conservation – pink shaded areas.

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Appendix 4 - Additional detail on conditions/ actions/ results Not applicable

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Appendix 5 - Revised Surveillance Program

Table 5.1 : Surveillance level rationale

Year Surveillance Number of Rationale activity auditors

4 On-site audit 3 This will be the 4th annual audit and it is normal auditors/assessors. practice for the re-assessment of the fishery to commence at this point. Therefore, a team of 3 auditors/assessors are expected to be required to be on-site.

Table 5.2: Timing of surveillance audit Year Anniversary Proposed date Rationale date of of surveillance certificate audit 4 March 2018 March 2018 Conclusion of the scientific assessment and management cycle in spring of year, proposal to postpone audit to include the final management decisions after the fishery has started.

Table 5.3: Fishery Surveillance Program Revised Surveillance Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Level On-site Off-site On-site Off-site surveillance Level 4 surveillance surveillance surveillance audit & re- audit audit audit certification site visit.

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