Seafood Assessment

Northern Shrimp

Pandalus borealis

(fromWikipedia)

Atlantic Canada

September 2006

Bettina Saier1 and Susanna D. Fuller2

1Independent Consultant and 2 Dalhousie University Shrimp – Atlantic Canada August 2006

About SeaChoice ® and Seafood Assessments

The SeaChoice® program evaluates the ecological sustainability of wild-caught and farmed seafood commonly found in the Canadian marketplace. SeaChoice® defines sustainable seafood as originating from sources, whether wild-caught or farmed, which can maintain or increase production in the long-term without jeopardizing the structure or function of affected ecosystems. SeaChoice® makes its science-based recommendations available to the public in the form of a pocket guide, Canada’s Seafood Guide, that can be downloaded from the Internet (www.seachoice.org) or obtained from the SeaChoice® program directly by emailing a request to us. The program’s goals are to raise awareness of important ocean conservation issues and empower Canadian seafood consumers and businesses to make choices for healthy oceans.

Each sustainability recommendation on Canada’s Seafood Guide is supported by a Seafood Assessment by SeaChoice or a Seafood Report by Monterey Bay Aquarium; both groups use the same assessment criteria. Each assessment synthesizes and analyzes the most current ecological, fisheries and ecosystem science on a species, then evaluates this information against the program’s conservation ethic/sustainability criteria to arrive at a recommendation of “Best Choices”, “Concerns” or “Some Concern”. The detailed evaluation methodology is available on our website at www.seachoice.org. In producing Seafood Assessments, SeaChoice® seeks out research published in academic, peer-reviewed journals whenever possible. Other sources of information include government technical publications, fishery management plans and supporting documents, and scientific reviews of ecological sustainability. Information used to evaluate fisheries and aquaculture practices for assessments regularly comes from ecologists, fisheries and aquaculture scientists, members of industry and conservation organizations. Capture fisheries and aquaculture practices are highly dynamic; as the scientific information on each species changes, SeaChoice’s sustainability recommendations and the underlying Seafood Assessments will be updated to reflect these changes.

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Executive Summary

Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) are the primary coldwater shrimp resource in the North Atlantic. They are also found in the North Pacific, though some experts consider them to be a different subspecies. In the Northwest Atlantic, Northern shrimp are found from Davis Strait south to the Gulf of Maine. The Canadian Atlantic shrimp fishery takes place off the coast of Newfoundland northwards to Baffin Bay, and consists of an inshore and an offshore component. Inshore boats fishing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the Scotian Shelf and off northwestern Newfoundland deliver fresh and frozen shrimp to shore plants for cooking and peeling. The offshore fishery is prosecuted by large factory ships capable of cooking and freezing shrimp within minutes of harvest. The landed value of Northern shrimps in Eastern Canada in 2005 was over $ 240 million, which makes it the third most valuable fishery in Atlantic Canada after lobster and snow crab.

Northern shrimps are short lived, early-maturing fast growers that produce many young, and so are inherently resistant to fishing pressure.

Abundance and biomass in the Atlantic Canada Northern shrimp fishery has been increasing since the 1990s, and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) trends have remained stable or above the long-term average. Due to high biomass and low exploitation rates, all Northern shrimp stocks in eastern Canada are considered in good shape and overfishing does not occur at this time. The increase in shrimp biomass in the 1990s was related at least in part to the collapse of Atlantic cod, which had historically been a very abundant predator on Northern shrimps.

The distribution of Northern shrimp overlaps with groundfish and other shellfish populations. Resulting from concerns about the level of bycatch of groundfish species by the small-meshed shrimp trawls and the effect on their populations, an exclusion device known as the Nordmore grate was introduced in the Canadian shrimp fishery in 1993. This device sorts out the larger fish, allowing them to escape through an opening in the top of the net, while allowing the smaller shrimp to pass through and be retained in the cod-end of the net. With extensive use of the grate in recent years, groundfish mortality in Canadian shrimp fisheries has been reduced markedly and bycatch has usually amounted to 1-2% of total landings by weight. However, even low bycatch of small redfish as well as endangered Atlantic cod continues to be a major conservation concern because cod abundance, for example, has shown violent fluctuations and rapid declines in the last two to three decades, mostly due to overfishing and today, many stocks are at historically low levels.

On the Atlantic coast Canada, otter trawls are the primary gear used by fishermen targeting Northern shrimp. Numerous studies have documented and summarized the effects of mobile tending gear, such as bottom trawls, on seafloor habitats, and have consistently recognized bottom trawls, including otter trawls, as some of the most damaging gear types in use. Although Northern shrimp live primarily in sand and mud, habitats with a moderate to high resilience to disturbance, severe gear impacts remain the biggest concern of this fishery.

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The Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada manages the Northern shrimp fishery in 3 regions - Newfoundland/Labrador, the Gulf and Estuary of St. Lawrence, and the Eastern Scotian Shelf. Management measures in each region include some or all of the following: seasonal closures, vessel licensing, limited/closed entry, mandatory bycatch reduction devices, minimum mesh size, research surveys, observer and dockside monitoring, and Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits. For the offshore fleet of factory freezer trawlers, the TACs are divided into Enterprise Allocations or individual company quotas. All vessels in the offshore fishery must also have independent observers onboard at all times. There remains some uncertainty in stock status. The Canadian shrimp fisheries are considered effectively managed and comprehensively monitored and enforced, with the exception of the lack of attention to habitat impacts.

For a more comprehensive review of all cold water shrimp, see Coldwater (Northern) Shrimp Seafood Watch Report (available online: http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/content/media/MBA_SeafoodWatch_ColdwaterShri mpReport.pdf).

The criteria analyzed in the assessment for Northern shrimps, Pandalus borealis, from eastern Canada result in the following overall recommendation: SOME CONCERN.

Table of Sustainability Ranks Conservation Concern Sustainability Low Moderate High Critical Criteria Inherent Vulnerability √ Status of Stocks √

Nature of Bycatch √

Habitat Effects √ Management √ Effectiveness

Overall Seafood Recommendation:

While shrimp are fast growing and resilient to fishing pressure (although there are signs that shrimp size is declining), and stocks are fairly healthy, the impacts of shrimp trawling on the sea floor have received little attention in Canadian waters. Efforts have been put in place to reduce bycatch, however there are reports of juvenile groundfish being caught in shrimp trawls. Additionally, cold water corals are impacted by shrimp trawling. Management has been moderately effective, in maintaining stock biomass. The overall recommendation for Northern shrimp is: “some concerns”.

Northern Shrimp Best choice Some Concerns Avoid

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About the Overall Seafood Recommendation: • A seafood product is ranked Avoid if two or more criteria are of High Conservation Concern (red) OR if one or more criteria are of Critical Conservation Concern (black) in the table above. • A seafood product is ranked Some Concerns if the five criteria “average” to yellow (Moderate Conservation Concern) OR if the “Status of Stocks” and “Management Effectiveness” criteria are both of Moderate Conservation Concern. • A seafood product is ranked Best Choice if three or more criteria are of Low Conservation Concern (green) and the remaining criteria are not of High or Critical Conservation Concern.

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Introduction

The Northern (or pink) shrimp, Pandalus borealis, is the most commercially important of more than 30 shrimp species found in the Canadian Northwest Atlantic. A closely related species, the striped pink shrimp, Pandalus montagui, at times occurs as a by-catch of varying proportions but, more recently, large concentrations of this species have been found at certain locations in the eastern Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay (DFO 2006).

Biology

Shrimp belong to the Class Crustacea, which includes species such as lobsters, crabs, and crayfish. These animals are characterized by a hard outer shell or exoskeleton, jointed legs and, as most crustacean are aquatic, they breath through gills. The Northern shrimp is pale scarlet when alive (hence its name the “pink” shrimp), has a pair of large compound eyes and can grow as large as 15 to 16 cm, although most are smaller than this. The shell covering the head and thorax, together known as the carapace, is modified into a long, curved, satire-like structure called a rostrum which has numerous spines on both edges. Many shrimp, including the Northern shrimp, are good swimmers. Appendages on the tail (abdomen), called pleopods, act like paddles and enable the animals to move with remarkable agility, both horizontally and vertically, over considerable distances. Sudden flexing of the tail also allows rapid movement over short distances as an emergency mechanism of escape (DFO 2006a). These shrimp appear to prefer areas where the bottom is soft and muddy, and can burrow into the sediment.

In the northwest Atlantic, shrimp are most abundant in water between 2° and 6°C. In some areas, these temperature requirements restrict their distribution to depths greater than approximately 180 metres. There also is a relationship between size and depth, with larger animals generally occurring in greater proportions in deeper water. Migrations are of two types, horizontal and vertical. Horizontal migration is apparently seasonal and occurs when egg-bearing females migrate to shallower water (within the limits, of course, imposed by temperature), where they are often found in dense concentrations. After eggs hatch, distribution is usually less concentrated. Vertical migration occurs on a daily basis as the shrimp tend to leave the ocean floor at night and move upward in the water column, presumably in search of small pelagic crustaceans which form part of their diet.

Shrimp are both hermaphroditic and protandrous. This means that male sex organs develop first and function before the female organs. After functioning as a male, the shrimp goes through a transition period and then spends the remainder of its life as a female. In some areas, early maturing females are found and in these instances the male phase is suppressed or absent.

In the northwest Atlantic, shrimp lay eggs during the late summer and fall. The eggs remain attached to the abdominal appendages of the female until the following spring. An average-sized female carries around 1,700 eggs. These develop over the egg-bearing period and hatch as larvae. The larvae float to waters near the surface where they feed and after several months, they migrate to nearer to the ocean floor, and continue their transition to adults. Most shrimp remain immature through the second year and mature as males in the third. Generally, the transition to the female stage takes place early in the fourth year, followed by ripening of the ovaries, mating

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and spawning. Females may spawn in one or more successive years and live to be five years of age and older. In areas where water temperatures are at the lower end of the range of tolerance, both growth and maturation are retarded while the life span tends to be longer.

Shrimp, in order to grow, must periodically shed the hard outer shell through a process called moulting (ecdysis). When the shrimp crawls out of the old shell, its body begins to absorb water and increase in size before the new soft shell begins to harden. During the period when the shell is soft, the shrimp are highly vulnerable to predators. Actual growth takes place during the period between moults (intermoult) as the water previously absorbed is replaced by body tissue. Moulting and growth slows down as the shrimp become older. Females can grow only when they are not carrying eggs.

Northern shrimp feed on the bottom during the daytime on various items such as worms, small crustacea, detritus and marine plants. Small pelagic crustacea called copepods and euphausids (krill) are probably heavily preyed upon at night when the shrimp migrate vertically in the water column. Shrimp themselves serve as food for many species of fish, especially Greenland halibut (turbot) and cod. They also have been found in the stomachs of harp seals.

Fishery

The shrimp fishery in Atlantic Canada began in the 1960’s, but increased dramatically, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador waters following the collapse of the groundfish stocks. Today, the Atlantic Canadian fishery is characterized by invertebrate fisheries, which are high in value. Nevertheless, the ecosystem has vastly changed over the last three decades. Figure 1 shows the change in the catches of groundfish, invertebrates and number of fishers from 1985 to 2002 with the cod moratorium declared in 1992.

Figure 1. Trends in groundfish, shellfish and number of fisher’s from 1985 to 2002 (from Higashimura 2004).

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In Atlantic Canada, shrimp fisheries began in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the mid 1960s near Sept-Iles, Quebec (Figure 1). Fisheries then developed on the west coast of Newfoundland in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and in an area north of Anticosti Island during the mid 1970s. In 1977, New Brunswick vessels participated in a relatively small fishery on the Scotian Shelf and large trawlers fished newly discovered shrimp concentrations in Hopedale and Cartwright Channels off the Labrador coast. The larger vessels extended their effort for shrimp into the Davis Strait area in 1979, and in 1980 a limited amount of fishing for the striped pink shrimp was conducted in the eastern Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay.

Vessels participating in these fisheries use small meshed otter trawls to catch the shrimp. Both net and vessel size vary, depending on the fishery. Small stern trawlers (less than 20 m) are used on the west coast of Newfoundland for trips of one or two days' duration, while vessels from Quebec and New Brunswick generally are larger, capable of towing larger trawls and able to remain at sea for longer periods of time. The larger offshore stern trawlers in the Labrador Sea and Davis Strait use very large trawls and can remain at sea for a month or more. The small meshed trawls often catch groundfish which sometimes are utilized to supplement the shrimp catch.

Landings of Northern shrimp on the east coast of Canada increased from less than 2,000 metric tons (t) in the early 1970s to around 15,000 t in the period 1979-81. The product is landed in a number of forms. Fresh and freshfrozen whole shrimp often are returned to shore for cooking and peeling. Some of the larger offshore trawlers have cooking and peeling machinery onboard and deliver a very advanced product. Therefore, the landed value of shrimp is variable and difficult to quantify. In 1979, however, it was estimated that the landed value of shrimp on the Atlantic-coast-of Canada was around $13 million.

The Northern shrimp resources of Sept-lles, Quebec and Port au Choix, on the west coast of Newfoundland are now being fully utilized. Areas in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence around Anticosti Island and on the Scotian Shelf are becoming increasingly important as the industry expands. Shrimp stocks off Labrador and in the Davis Strait are fully exploited where catch rates prove economical. The fishery potential for the striped pink shrimp resources in Ungava Bay and eastern Hudson Strait has not yet been demonstrated.

Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

The shrimp fishery in this area is divided into four areas – 8,9, 10 and 12 (Figure 2).

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Figure 2. Map of shrimp fishing areas in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Source: DFO 2004a).

The Northern shrimp fishery began in this area in 1965, with landings increasing since the fishery began. An all time high TAC of 36,000 mt was set for 2004, almost 10,000 mt more than the catch in 2003. Strong year classes in 1997 and 1999 have resulted in high catches in 2002, 2003 (DFO 2004a). In 2005, the landings were reduced to 31,000 mt and is explained by a reduction in fishing effort as a result of poorer prices for shrimp due to decreased market conditions (DFO 2006b).

The fishery is managed through TACs, and stock assessment is conducted using indicators from the industry and research surveys. During the 1990’s, resource status indicators were low, but following that recruitment increased and overall stock abundance increased as well (DFO 2006b).

Maritimes Region Fishery

The Scotian Shelf shrimp fishery consists of four Shrimp Fishing Areas (SFAs 13 - 16) and is concentrated in the areas around Cape Breton and eastern Nova Scotia. The fishery is conducted in inshore and offshore areas. As of 2003, the fishery is shared by three fleets, including the Scotia Fundy mobile gear fleet (23 vessels), the Gulf-based mobile gear fleet (6 vessels) and the inshore trap fishery (14 vessels). Temporary mobile participants are also permitted when the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) rises above a specific threshold level identified under an approved sharing arrangement. The fishery is open year round for the mobile fleet with the main fishing activity occurring from May to July. The trap fishery occurs during the fall and winter in Chedabucto Bay (DFO 2004b).

Since 1998, all mobile gear vessels operate under Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) and are allocated 90% of the area quota. 75% of that quota goes to the Scotia Fundy vessels and 25% to the Gulf of St. Lawrence vessels. The participants in the trap fishery operated under a

9 Shrimp – Atlantic Canada August 2006 competitive quota (10% of the TAC) and fish until the quota is reached. Temporary mobile access is provided when the TAC is above 3,500t and the mobile portion of the TAC is above 3,200t. The 2004 TAC was set at 3,500t.

In 2003, the industry survey abundance was the highest on record as were commercial catch rates DFO 2004b). This is attributed in part to new recruitment to the fishery as well as a continued effect of a decrease in natural mortality as groundfish stocks remain low. In 2003, Landings were approximately 2,800t in 2003. The landed value of this fishery was approximately $5 million in 2003.

Since the start of the fishery in this area, the spatial pattern has changed, with new areas being targeted. There has also been a decrease in the average size of females caught in this area, which has been attributed to the removal of older females and possibly depensation effects with decreased growth rate as a result of population density. There has been some difficulty in avoiding small shrimp in the trawl fishery.

Newfoundland / Labrador Fishery

The shrimp fishery is now one of the major fisheries in the Newfoundland Region, replacing the groundfish fishery in value and representing an ecosystem shift. The fishery has been characterized by a consistent increases in quota, catches and exploitation of new areas.

The fishery for Northern shrimp off the coast of Labrador began in the mid 1970's, primarily in the Hopedale and Cartwright Channels (SFA 5) (Figure 3).Annual catches increased steadily from less than 3000 tons in 1977 to about 4100 tons in 1981 but subsequently declined to 1000 tons in 1983 and 1984 due to poor markets and high operating costs (Figure 4). Economic conditions improved, thereafter, and catches from SFA’s 5 and 6 increased to about 7800 tons in 1987. In 1988, fishing effort became more widespread as vessels ventured into Divisions OB (SFA 2) and 2G (SFA 4) where both catch rates and sizes of shrimp proved to be very attractive to the industry. Additional commercial concentrations of shrimp were located within SFA 6 in a small area east of St. Anthony Basin and in the Funk Island Deep. Catches in both 1988 and 1989 approached 20,000 tons and remained in the 15,000 to 17,000 ton range from 1990 to 1993. Exploratory fisheries along the slope of the shelf in SFA's 4, 5 and 6 in 1992 and 1993 revealed commercial concentrations of shrimp in those areas, as well. (As reported in DFO 2006c)

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Figure 3. Shrimp fishery along Northern Newfoundland and Labrador to the Davis Strait (DFO 2003).

Catches from 1994 to 1996 ranged between 24,000 and 27,000 tons in response to increased TAC’s for several SFA’s. Catches more than tripled to 94,000 tons in 2000, mainly due to increases in TAC within SFA 6 where the resource was considered to be healthy and exploitation low. The increases after 1996 were primarily reserved for the development of a small vessel (< 65’) fleet which has since grown to include more than 300 vessels. (As reported in DFO 2006c).

In 2003, TAC’s increased by 25,000 t and included a 3625 t allocation to fund Northern shrimp research in SFA’s 2 and 4. During that year industry was granted a change in fishing season from a calendar (Jan 1 – Dec. 31) year to a fiscal (Apr. 1 – Mar. 31) year. To facilitate this change, an additional 20,229 t interim quota was allocated to the large vessel fleet and the 2003 – 2004 fishing season became 15 months in length. The 2004 – 2005 the fishing season was 12 months in duration and total allocations, within SFAs 2 and 4-6, equalled 120,302 t. This TAC was maintained throughout the 2005 – 2006 fiscal year. (As reported in DFO 2006c).

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160000 140000 120000 Catch (t) 100000 TAC (t) 80000

Catch (t) 60000 40000 20000 0 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 Year

Figure 4. Catches and TAC in the shrimp fishery in SFA 2, 4,5 and 6. Catches for 2005 are preliminary (DFO 2006c).

In the most recent assessment, both distribution of the shrimp and population structure are cited as unknown. There is a requirement for increased research surveys and studies on both Pandalus borealis and its overlapping species, Pandalus montagui. Some areas have never had a research survey, yet the fishery continues to expand. While commercial catches are good, the status of the resource remains uncertain (DFO 2006c).

Offshore Fishery in NAFO Regulatory Area

The Northern shrimp fishery includes areas under international jurisdiction, beyond Canada’s 200-mile-limit. There have been or are ongoing fisheries in NAFO Divisions 3LMNO. The offshore fishery in 3M is considered a discrete stock and is managed by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization. Because of difficulties in estimating stock abundance, the fishery is managed by an Effort Allocation Scheme instead of through a TAC system. In NAFO areas 3NO, which cover the Nose and the Tail of the Grand Banks, there is a moratorium on the shrimp fishery. There is TAC of 22,000 metric tons for 3L stock in 2007. In all NAFO shrimp fisheries, sorting grates should be mandatory and area and time restrictions apply.

For shrimp in 3M, Scientific Council determined that stock size indicators have been stable since 1998. The 2001 and 2002 year-classes are both above average, but 2003 year-class appears weak. Recommendations for 3M shrimp state that the stock appears to have sustained an average annual catch of about 48 000 tons since 1998 with no detectable effect on stock biomass. The Scientific Council advises a catch of 48 000 tons for 2007.

With regard to shrimp in Div. 3LNO, Scientific Council reported an increasing trend in SSB and biomass since 1999. The stock appears to be well represented by a broad range of size groups, and the exploitation index is low. Recruitment is anticipated to decline. In 2006, the Scientific Council recommended that the 2007 TAC should not exceed 22,000 tons and that this TAC should not be raised for a number of years to allow time to monitor the impact of the fishery upon the Div. 3LNO shrimp stock. Canada has the majority of the quota in 3L (NAFO 2006).

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Figure 5. Long term catch trends in NAFO Convention Area (includes domestic and international catches in the Northwest Atlantic). (Source:www.nafo.int).

Economic Importance Shrimp are the third most valuable fishery in Atlantic Canada, with catches in 2005 totaling over $240 million. Invertebrate fisheries have eclipsed vertebrate fisheries in terms of economic importance in the Atlantic Region.

Scope of the analysis and the ensuing recommendation: This analysis covers the Atlantic Canadian shrimp fishery, which is concentrated on the Eastern Scotian Shelf, the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Newfoundland /Labrador offshore area, to Davis Strait. The recommendation is “Some Concerns

Availability of Science

The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans monitors the shrimp fishery, including catches, distribution of effort, and the size / sex composition of the catches. Research trawl surveys have been conducted since 1995 in the Newfoundland region, since 1990 in the Quebec region and a DFO survey was conducted in the Maritimes Region from 1982-1988 and replaced by a DFO- Industry survey in 1995. Stock assessments are available for 2003 and 2004.

Market Availability

Common and market names: Northern Shrimp, Pink Shrimp, Coldwater Shrimp Tiefseegarnele, Gamba rosada, ,

Seasonal availability: Fresh shrimp are available from April to November during the primary fishing season and frozen shrimp are available year round.

Product forms: Coldwater shrimp are readily available fresh in coastal markets, but because they are fragile and relatively perishable, most shrimp is sold frozen in a variety of commercial product forms including frozen block whole (raw or cooked), frozen block peeled (raw or

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cooked), frozen IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) - raw or cooked, canned, in brine, smoked and in prepared dishes such as soups, bisques and salads

According to Agriculture Canada which promotes the shrimp industry as a food source, factory freezer vessels process their catches at sea to maximize product quality and value. The largest shrimp are uncooked, individually quick frozen, and packed in 1-kg boxes primarily for the Japanese market. Mid-sized shrimp are cooked, individually quick frozen and packed in 5-kg boxes primarily for the European market. The smallest "industrial" shrimp are frozen and shipped to peeling plants in Europe, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec.

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Analysis of SeaChoice® Sustainability Criteria for Wild-caught Species

Criterion 1: Inherent Vulnerability to Fishing Pressure

The growth rate of Northern Shrimp is unknown. Shrimp change sex in the course of their life cycle, achieving male sexual maturity at about two and a half, and female sexual maturity between four and five years of age (DFO 2006, Roberts 2005). Shrimp live for 4-5 years, though in some areas they are known to reach more than 8 years (Bergstrom 2000, DFO 2003). Shrimps have high fecundity (Roberts 2005). Although populations in the Northern part of the range exhibit slower rates of growth, shrimp are generally considered fast-growing (DFO 2003, Roberts 2005).

Shrimp are found in the North Atlantic (Spitsbergen and Greenland south to the North Sea and to Massachusetts, U.S.A.). Shrimp are also found in the North Pacific (Bering Sea to S.E. Siberia, Japan and Oregon, U.S.A.). The taxonomic status of the North Pacific form, usually considered a subspecies, is not fully clear yet (FAO 2006, Roberts 2005).

Since population fluctuations of shrimp stocks show negative correlations with water temperatures, there is some concern that there is degradation of their habitat caused by warming of bottom and surface water. In 2006, comparatively high water temperatures that might be related to global warming, the break down of the North Atlantic Oscillation or decadal cycles of temperature could, for example, negatively impact shrimp abundances (DFO 2004, D. Orr pers. comm.).

Table 1. Life history characteristics of Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis). Growth Rate/Max. Maximum Special Age at Maturity Fecundity Species Range Size Age Behaviors North Atlantic, Mature as males circumboreal. Also in 1000- at 2 years and North Pacific Shrimp tend to Unknown 5-8 1700 eggs then as females at although species aggregate / female 5 identification is a matter of debate.

Synthesis Because of their relatively early age at maturity, and high production of eggs per female, shrimp are viewed to have a low inherent vulnerability to fishing pressure. There has been difficulty in some fishing areas in avoiding small shrimp that have yet to reproduce. If this problem continues, the shrimp stocks are at the risk of recruitment overfishing.

Criterion 1: Inherent Vulnerability to Fishing Pressure Primary Factors to Evaluate Ranking Intrinsic rate of increase ‘r’ unknown Age at first maturity von Bertalanfy growth coefficient ‘k’ unknown Maximum Age

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Reproductive potential (fecundity) Secondary Factors to Evaluate Species range Special behaviours or requirements Quality of habitat (non-fishery impacts)

Inherent Vulnerability Rank:

Low (Resilient) Moderate High (Vulnerable)

Criterion 2: Status of Wild Stocks

Factors 1 & 2: Management classification status & Abundance thresholds

Generally, shrimp catches have increased ever since the fishery off the Canadian East coast began in the mid 1960s (DFO 2006b,c, DFO 2005, DFO 2004). While management of the shrimp fishery has been better than that of the groundfish fishery, high abundances of shrimp are linked to the decline of the groundfish stocks, which were major predators of the shrimp. In addition, there has been a moratorium in place on fishing shrimp in international waters in NAFO Divisions 3NO as a result of overfishing in the past.

BMSY is unavailable but studies conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (e.g. DFO 2006b,c DFO 2005, DFO 2004) show that shrimp abundance and biomass in the Atlantic Canada shrimp fishery have remained at a high level. The status of wild stocks remains positive and is considered in excellent shape (P. Koeller pers. comm.). A very strong shrimp recruitment in 2004 is expected to increase abundances of harvestable shrimp biomass in 2006/2007 (D. Orr. pers. comm.).

Factor 3: Occurrence of overfishing

High shrimp biomass, low exploitation rates and conservative TAC levels indicate no sign of overfishing (DFO 2006, DFO 2006b, DFO 2005, DFO 2004b). None of the shrimp stocks in eastern Canada are considered overfished (P. Koeller pers. comm., D. Orr pers. comm.)

Factor 4: Overall degree of uncertainty in status of stock

The Canadian Stock Assessment Secretariat regularly carries out stock assessments for the major shrimp stocks, using both fishery-dependent and independent data (e.g. DFO 2006, DFO 2005, DFO 2004, DFO 2003b).

Factor 5: Long term trend in abundance

CPUE long-term trends are up or above the long-term average. For example, in shrimp fishing area 6 in the Newfoundland and Labrador region, landings are near the all time high, CPUE for

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large vessels is above the long-term average, and CPUE for small vessels has remained stable since 1998. Fishery-independent data indicate increases in abundance and biomass over the 1997 – 2001 period, which have since remained high. Overall, recent catches in SFA6 have “had no observable impact on shrimp abundance and biomass” (DFO 2005). Similar conclusions were drawn for the St Lawrence estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence stocks, with high CPUE and research survey indices (DFO 2006). CPUE rates and biomass for the eastern Nova Scotia fishery are currently the highest on record (DFO 2004).

Factor 6: Short term trend in abundance

Although the long-term CPUE trends are above average or up, CPUEs may fluctuate in the short- term. For example, in shrimp fishing area 6 in the Newfoundland and Labrador region, CPUE for large vessels is above the long-term average but has declined since 2000 (DFO 2005).

Factor 7: Current age, size, or sex distribution

The shrimp fishery mainly targets the large female shrimps but there are no studies indicating a shift in age, size or sex distribution of the stocks (Roberts 2005). Female biomass has gone up in Shrimp Fishing Area 6 (DFO 2005, D. Orr pers. comm.). The high numbers of small shrimp in 2006 landings are attributed to high shrimp densities and the subsequent decrease in body growth due to the lack of food (D. Orr pers. comm.).

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Synthesis Catches overall have remained high in most areas and has increased since the start of the fishery. There is a moratorium in place on the shrimp fishery in NAFO divisions 3NO in international waters. There is some uncertainty in terms of why stocks are high, and there is concern about the potential impacts of water temperature, fishing gear and the implications of removing shrimp biomass on predator species such as groundfish. Research trawl surveys include uncertainties in abundance trends. There are considerable difficulties in avoiding the catch of smaller shrimp which will have an impact on the stocks in the years to come. For these reasons, the conservation concern is “moderate”.

Criterion 2: Status of Wild Stocks Primary Factors to Evaluate Rankings Newfoundland Eastern Estuary and / Labrador Scotian Shelf Gulf of St. NAFO (SFA 2,4,5,6) (SFA 13-15) Lawrence 3LM (SFA 8,9,10,12) Management classification status Current population abundance relative to BMSY Occurrence of overfishing Overall degree of uncertainty in status of stock Long term trend in abundance Short term trend in abundance Current age, size, or sex distribution

Conservation Concern: Overall Status of Wild Stocks

Low (Healthy) Moderate High (Stock Poor) Stock Critical

Criterion 3: Nature and Extent of Bycatch

Bycatch is defined as species that are caught but subsequently discarded (injured or dead) for any reason. Bycatch does not include incidental catch (non-targeted catch) if it is utilized, accounted for and/or managed in some way.

Factor 1: Quantity & Composition of Bycatch

Even low bycatch can be a severe conservation concern if the biomass of the bycatch species is low. For example, the biomass of Atlantic cod on the Scotian Shelf is believed to be approximately 4 percent of original biomass (Rosenberg et al. 2005). According to Orr et al. (2004), low weights of redfish, Atlantic cod and American plaice were taken in the 2004

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Canadian 3L shrimp fishery, but there is an overlap between juvenile redfish habitat and areas of highest shrimp concentrations. As a result, the small amount of redfish bycatch is almost entirely composed of juvenile fish, which could have a large impact on stock reproductive health. To counteract this bycatch, the use of a sorting grid to reduce bycatches of fish is mandatory for all shrimping fleets in the Div. 3L and 3M fisheries (Orr et al. 2004). However, Rosenberg et al. (2005) reported that the 2003 bycatch of redfish in the 3M shrimp fishery represented 83% of the total redfish catch in numbers, most of which were juveniles. Likewise, NAFO's Scientific Council expressed concern that high bycatch of 3M redfish jeopardizes sustainability of redfish stocks (Rosenberg et al. 2005). So, while bycatch of Atlantic cod and redfish in the shrimp fishery accounts for less than 0.1 percent of current trawlable biomass of those species (Orr et al. 2004), research is ongoing to try to reduce bycatch even further, through the potential of using grates with smaller mesh, for example (DFO 2003). Deep sea corals are also caught in the shrimp trawls (Gass 2002 and Edinger and Wareham, in prep). These corals are slow growing and long lived and impacts of shrimp fishing on such species have received little attention in the Northwest Atlantic.

Factor 2: Population Consequence of the Bycatch

Resulting from concerns about the level of by-catch of groundfish species by the small-meshed shrimp trawls and the effect on their populations, an exclusion device known as the Nordmore grate was introduced in the Canadian shrimp fishery in 1993. This device sorts out the larger fish, allowing them to escape through an opening in the top of the net, while allowing the smaller shrimp to pass through and be retained in the cod-end of the net. With extensive use of the grate in recent years, groundfish mortality in Canadian shrimp fisheries has been reduced markedly (DFO 2003). Nevertheless, by-catch of small redfish as well as other species of concern (Atlantic cod) continues to be a concern because these very small fish tend to pass through the openings in the Nordmore grates presently being used. Use of grates with smaller openings may help resolve this situation (DFO 2003). Further bycatch mitigation measures include the regulation that fishermen are requested to move their boats away from high bycatch areas and the use of tickler chains that help keeping the net off the bottom (D. Orr pers. comm.). Little is known about the population consequences of shrimp trawling on deep sea corals, but given the life history of these animals, it is expected that trawling will impact future reproduction and subsequent recruitment of corals.

Factor 3: Trends in Interaction Bycatch Rates

Rosenberg et al. (2005) argue that current levels of bycatch may prevent the recovery of once abundant species such as Atlantic cod.

Secondary Factors: Ecosystem impacts

Because of catches of species currently under moratoria and considered at historically low levels, and the failure of these species to recover bycatch of juveniles of these fish could have ecosystem impacts. Currently, the North Atlantic ecosystem has shifted from being dominated by vertebrates, namely groundfish species, to being dominated by invertebrates, including shrimp, lobster and crab.

19 Shrimp – Atlantic Canada August 2006

Synthesis

The shrimp fishing industry has made significant efforts to reduce bycatch through the use of the Nordmore grate. This factor has resulted in the decrease of catches of large fish. However, juvenile fish continue to be caught, and this is of concern particularly for groundfish species under moratorium. Catches of deep sea corals area also a concern. The shrimp fishery is conducted primarily on muddy bottoms, which is not the preferred habitat of most coral species, so compared to other fisheries, it is expected that the coral bycatch is relatively low. The continued trend in bycatch of juvenile fish species could have population consequences and contribute to the lack of recovery of these species. Ecosystem impacts remain unknown, as there has been little research in this area, however the NW Atlantic ecosystem shifted and continued catch of shrimp could result in decreased prey for low groundfish stocks. Bycatch is therefore considered to be a moderate conservation concern.

Criterion 3: Bycatch Primary Factors to Evaluate All Areas Quantity & composition of bycatch Population consequence of bycatch Trends in bycatch interaction rates Secondary factors Ecosystem impacts

Nature of Bycatch Rank:

Low (Minimal) Moderate High (Severe) Critical

Criterion 4: Effect of Fishing Practices on Habitats and Ecosystems

Factors 1-3: Habitat Effects

On the Atlantic coast of Canada, otter trawls are the primary gear used by fishermen targeting Northern shrimp. Traps (shrimp pots) are used in a small portion of the Eastern Scotian Shelf fishery (DFO 2004). Numerous studies have documented and summarized the effects of mobile tending gear, such as bottom trawls, on seafloor habitats, and have consistently recognized bottom trawls, including otter trawls, as some of the most damaging gear types in use (for a comprehensive review see Roberts 2005 and references therein).

Shrimp are usually fished in areas where the ocean floor is soft and muddy, habitat types that are relatively resilient to fishing disturbance. However, the heavy gear used in the Atlantic Canada fishery suggests that at least some fishing does still occur in hardbottom and complex habitat areas (Roberts 2005).

20 Shrimp – Atlantic Canada August 2006

Northern shrimp is landed almost entirely in the North Atlantic. Canada, Greenland, and Norway combined account for perhaps 70 percent of landings. Considerable increases in landings in Canada in the late 1990s made it the largest supplier of coldwater shrimp. In eastern Canadian waters, the shrimp fishery is carried out in in 3 regions (Newfoundland/Labrador, the Eastern Scotian Shelf, and the Gulf and Estuary of St. Lawrence). The most productive areas exist throughout the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore area within a depth range of roughly 150- 600 m. The Newfoundland/Labrador fishery - with 365 inshore and 17 offshore license holders - has not allowed any new vessels since 1998. The Eastern Scotian Shelf fishery is limited to approximately 40 vessels, with no new licenses granted for the past several years. The Gulf and Estuary of St. Lawrence fishery is capped at 112 licenses, with no allowable increase (Roberts 2005). Several closed areas have been established to measure gear impacts and protect cold- water corals within shrimp fishing areas (D. Orr. pers. comm.)

Factors 4 & 5: Ecosystem Effects

Several studies have documented changes in the community structure of shrimp as a result of large-scale fishing (e.g. Worm and Myers 2003) but no studies have been carried out on the food web consequences of shrimp removal yet.

That trawling causes immediate and considerable damage to benthic communities is well documented and in its recent review of the impacts of trawling, the National Research Council concluded that intensively trawled areas are likely to remain permanently altered, inhabited by fauna adapted to frequent physical disturbances. In addition, the effects of mobile fishing gear are cumulative and repeated trawling can exceed a threshold and result in observable, long-term ecological effects, even in shallow, high-energy areas. Most studies focus on acute effects, which fail to document long-term changes from fishing activities. However, no specific studies on the ecosystem impacts of removing large quantities of coldwater shrimp have been conducted (Roberts 2005 and references therein).

Synthesis

Northern shrimp in Atlantic Canada is fished primarily with otter trawls, which are known to damage the seafloor and alter fish habitat. The fishery has been expanding rapidly, impacting an increasingly large area, some of which has not been heavily trawled in the past. While muddy bottoms are potential more resilient than hard bottoms, there is still little study of the long term impacts of shrimp trawling in Canadian waters. Shrimp are a major food source for depleted groundfish species, and currently biomass needed for feed for other species is not considered in the management of the shrimp stocks. Given the altered state of the NW Atlantic ecosystem, shifting to be dominated by invertebrate biomass, the ever increasing catches of shrimp may be maintaining the ecosystem in this new state. The impacts of shrimp fishing using otter trawls are considered severe, and of high conservation concern.

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Criterion 4: Effect of Fishing Practices on Habitats and Ecosystems Factors to Evaluate Ranking Impacts of Fishing Gear on Habitat Resilience of the Habitat Spatial Extent of the Impact Disruption of food webs from target species removal Changes in ecosystem state

Overall Effects of Fishing Practices Rank:

Benign Moderate High Critical

Criterion 5: Effectiveness of the Management Regime

Factor 1: Stock Assessments

Stock assessments for the major stocks of Northern shrimp targeted by both the Canadian fisheries are generally carried out annually (by the Canadian Stock Assessment Secretariate of DFO), using both fisheries-dependent and independent data (e.g. DFO 2006, DFO 2005, DFO 2004).

Factor 2: Scientific Monitoring

The Northern shrimp fishery is one of Canada's most closely monitored fisheries. Offshore vessels are required to hail their positions and catches on a daily basis, thereby allowing real- time monitoring (DFO 2003). Shrimp resources are monitored through research surveys and sampling of the commercial catch. Catch rates of both shrimp and fish species are recorded with observations on shrimp size distribution, sex, maturity and egg production. For the Maritimes region fishery, which is concentrated on the Eastern Scotian Shelf, conservation measures for the mobile fleet include 100% hails and dockside monitoring of landings, minimum mesh size, and observer coverage as required. Additionally the fleet funds an annual scientific survey. Management measures for the trap fishery include 100% dockside monitoring of landings, trap limits, and effort distribution through the use of licence conditions.

Present research is directed towards age determination, estimation of mortality rates, effects of environmental parameters (e.g., temperature, currents) and relationship with major predators, especially Greenland halibut and cod.

Factor 3: Scientific Advice

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Although catch quotas were occasionally exceeded earlier on, the fishery has generally stayed within TAC limits in recent years (e.g. DFO 2006, 2005, 2004, D. Orr pers. Comm.).

Factor 4: Management Plans to Control Bycatch

Bycatch mitigation for the Canadian shimp fishery measures include (a) the regulation to move fishing vessels if a certain amount of bycatch is reached, (b) the use of tickler chains to keep the net off the bottom, (c) continued bycatch monitoring and the possibility of area closures and (d) bycatch reduction devices such as the Nordmore grate (D. Orr pers. comm.). With high bycatch Minimum mesh size (40mm) and bar spacing (22 to 28 mm) on Nordmore grates bycatch reduction devices have drastically reduced bycatch rates. Although overall bycatch for some species has increased due to an increase in fishing effort, bycatch rates have continued to decrease since the inception of the Nordmore grate requirement (Roberts 2005 and references therein). Overall, bycatch is now minimal (1-2% by weight is typical) (Koeller pers. comm.). Further efforts to minimize bycatch of species of concern such as cod and redfish are required. There have been no efforts to address the bycatch of cold water corals in the shrimp fishery (Gass 2002), although reportedly some areas have been closed to assess the impacts of the fishery on these animals (D. Orr, pers. Comm.).

Factor 5: Management Plans to Control Habitat Impacts from Fishing Practices

No studies have been carried out on the impacts of Canadian shrimp trawls specifically, so the effectiveness of mitigative measures has not yet been demonstrated. By contrast, the Oregon and Washington shrimp trawl fisheries use semi-pelagic trawls which reduce bycatch and may reduce habitat damage (Roberts 2005).

Factor 6: Catch Monitoring and Enforcement

The Canadian shrimp fishery regulations are enforced through the use of logbooks, observer coverage, and dockside monitoring (Roberts 2005). Observer coverage is required on all offshore shrimp vessels and dockside monitoring for all inshore shrimp vessels is mandatory to ensure catches remain within TAC (Total Allowable Catch) levels and to ensure gear restrictions are respected. The fishing industry is required to pay for onboard and dockside observers, as mandated by the DFO. Managers in each of the areas require that a certain percentage of fishing trips be monitored by onboard observers. For example, the offshore component of the Newfoundland fishery has 100% observer coverage (DFO 2003).

Factor 7: Management Track Record

Stock productivity is not only a function of the effectiveness of the management regime, and this is particularly the case with fast-growing species such as shrimp. Since changes in environmental conditions may have a greater impact on recruitment than changing fishing pressure, it is often difficult to evaluate whether declines in biomass are attributable to poor management (Roberts 2005 and references therein). Based on information from research and observation of the fisheries, estimates of yield (which can hopefully be maintained for some years) have been obtained. Total allowable catches have been revised accordingly for most areas off Labrador and

23 Shrimp – Atlantic Canada August 2006 in the Davis Strait. The number of participants in these fisheries also has been limited and a mesh size regulation to permit the escape of smaller, less marketable, shrimp has been enforced in Northern areas. Fisheries in and around the Gulf of St. Lawrence also have been controlled by limited entry, primarily based on acceptable economical returns for all participants. .

Synthesis

The shrimp fishery in Atlantic Canada is heavily monitored and independent research surveys as well as industry partnership research surveys are frequently carried out. Data is collected on the size frequency and sex ratios of the catch. Nevertheless, there remains uncertainty in the stock in some areas. Efforts to mitigate bycatch through the mandatory used of the Nordmore grate have resulted in bycatch reduction, although bycatch of juvenile groundfish and deep sea corals remains a concern. There have been no management plans to assess or mitigate the impacts of shrimping on the marine ecosystem, particularly the sea floor. Catches are monitored and enforcement is good, within national waters. Fisheries on the high seas are not monitored as closely. Management has been consistent over time, and the fact that abundances and catches continue to increase is positive, however it may be due to factors other than appropriate TACs, such as temperature and predation release. Overall, management is seen as moderately effective.

Criterion 5: Effectiveness of the Management Regime

Factors to Evaluate Ranking

Stock Assessments C Scientific Monitoring C Scientific Advice C Bycatch

Fishing Practices

Catch Monitoring and Enforcement Management Track Record

Overall Effectiveness of the Management Regime:

Highly effective Moderate Ineffective Critical

24 Shrimp – Atlantic Canada August 2006

Overall Evaluation and Seafood Recommendation

The Northern shrimp fishery in Atlantic Canada has become one of the most important fisheries in the region. Increases in stock abundance and catches, particularly over the last decade have allowed the fishing industry to increase its economic viability. The fast growing, and high reproductive potential of shrimp result in low vulnerability to fishing pressure, although there has been some concern about catches of smaller shrimp, particularly off Nova Scotia. Stock status is good, however there is uncertainty in some areas. Bycatch concerns include catches of juvenile groundfish, many species of which are at historical lows, and catches of deep sea corals. The use of the Nordmore grate has greatly decreased bycatch rates. Otter trawls are the primary gear used to catch shrimp, and these are known to have negative impacts on the sea floor. No efforts to assess or mitigate these impacts in Canadian waters have been made. Management has been moderately effective, as stocks have not declined. There have been consistent increases in TACs, but this is seen as commensurate with the resource. Because of bycatch concerns, some uncertainty in stock status, rapid expansion of the fishery and failure to address habitat impacts, the overall conservation recommendation is moderate, resulting in a final assessment of “some concern” for Northern shrimp in Atlantic Canadian waters. This is a revision of the assessment completed by Roberts (2005) for the Seafood Watch program. The change in assessment, from “best choice” to “some concern” is primarily because of bycatch and habitat considerations.

Table of Sustainability Ranks

Conservation Concern Sustainability Low Moderate High Critical Criteria Inherent Vulnerability √ Status of Stocks √ Nature of Bycatch √ Habitat Effects √ √ Management √ Effectiveness

Overall Seafood Recommendation:

Shrimp (trawl) Best choice Some Concerns Avoid

25 Shrimp – Atlantic Canada August 2006

References

Bowering WR and Orr DC (2004). By-catch of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, Walbaum) in the Canadian fishery for Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis, Koyer) in NAFO Subarea 2 and Divisions 3KL. NAFO SCR Doc. 04/67. http://www.nafo.int/publications/SCDocs/2004/abstracts/abstract067.html.

DFO 2006a. The Northern Shrimp. Underwater World. http://www.dfo- mpo.gc.ca/zone/underwater_sous-marin/nshrimp/nshrimp_e.htm

DFO (2006b). Assessment of shrimp stocks in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2005. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2006/003.

DFO (2006c). Northern Shrimp. Can. Sci. Advis. Sci. Stock Advisory Report 2006/007.

DFO (2005). Stock Assessment Report on Divisions 0B-3K Northern Shrimp. DFO Can. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2005/025.

DFO(2004a). Shrimp of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2003. DFO Sci. Stock Status Report 2004/009.

DFO (2004b). Northern Shrimp on the Eastern Scotian Shelf (SFA 13-15). DFO Sci. Stock Status Report 2004/045.

DFO (2003a). Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Northern Shrimp Northeast Newfoundland, Labrador Coast and Davis Strait. http://www.dfo- mpo.gc.ca/communic/fish_man/ifmpns-pgipcn/index_e.htm

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Edinger, E. N. and V. Wareham. Deep-Sea Coral Distributions in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region. Bulletin of Marine Science, in prep.

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Gass, S.E. 2002. An assessment of the distribution and status of deep sea corals in Atlantic Canada using both scientific and local forms of knowledge. MSC Thesis, Dalhousie University School of Resource and Environmental Studies.

Higashimura, R. 2005 Fisheries in Atlantic Canada after the collapse of the cod. IIFET 2004 Japan Proceedings.

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http://www.s.fpu.ac.jp/reiko/REIKO.pdf#search=%22Atlantic%20Canadian%20Shrimp%20Fish ery%22

Koeller P (pers. comm. 2005). Invertebrate Fisheries Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, N.S., B2Y 4A2, [email protected]

Kulka D (pers. comm. 2006). [email protected]

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Orr D (pers. comm. 2006). Fisheries and Oceans Canada. P.O. Box 5667, St. John’s NL A1C 5X1, [email protected]

Orr DC, Veitch PJ and Sullivan DJ (2004). An Update of Information Pertaining to Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis, Kroyer) And Groundfish in NAFO Divisions 3LNO. NAFO SCR Doc. 04/86. NAFO

Orr DC, Kulka DW, Veitch PJ, and Firth J (2000). Bycatch of Greenland Halibut (Reinhartius hippoglosoides) in the Offshore Shrimp Fishery. Can. Stock Asses. Sec. Res. Doc. 2000/070. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/CSAS/CSAS/English/Research_Years/2000/2000_070e.htm

Roberts S (2005). Coldwater (Northern) Shrimp Seafood Watch Report. http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/content/media/MBA_SeafoodWatch_ColdwaterShri mpReport.pdf

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Worm B and Myers R (2003). Meta-analysis of cod-shrimp interactions reveals top-down control in oceanic food webs. Ecology 84(1): 162-173

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