REPORT OF ICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NORTH ATLANTIC SALMON STOCKS

TO

NORTH ATLANTIC SALMON CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION

ManuelaWGC Azevedo Area & Hans Lassen CNL(11)8 Advice generated by ICES in response to terms of reference from NASCO • new format for advice in 2011, standard template adopted by ICES for all stocks and adivsory processes • feedback on format is welcome

• supporting information and details in the report of the ICES Working Group on North Atlantic Salmon available at: http://www.ices.dk/reports/ACOM/2011/WGNAS/wgnas_2011_final.pdf Manuela Azevedo & Hans Lassen Advice generated by ICES in response to terms of reference from NASCO 10.4 With respect to Atlantic salmon in the West Commission area: 1. describe the key events of the 2010 fisheries 2. describe the status of the stocks

Manuela Azevedo & Hans Lassen  In the event that NASCO informs ICES that the framework of indicators (FWI) indicates that reassessment is required 3. Provide annual catch options or alternative management advice for 2011–2013 with an assessment of risks relative to the objective of exceeding stock conservation limits and advise on the implications of these options for stock rebuilding

 In January 2011, NASCO indicated that no change to the management advice previously provided by ICES was required. Manuela Azevedo & Hans Lassen  In that assessment, no catch options for 2009 to 2011 at West Greenland were consistent with the management objectives defined for this stock unit. Key events of the 2010 fisheries Catch and effort in 2010

• Reported catch of 40.0 t – 38 t, West Greenland – 1.8 t in East Greenland

• Unreported catch of 10 t 100

80 3000 Catch 60 Quota 2500 40

2000 20

1500 0

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Weight (t) Weight 1000

500

0

1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 Catch and Effort in 2010

• large increase in catches in Div. 1A (17 t in 2010, highest since 1988)

20

15

10

Landings(t) 5 1A 1 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 0A 10 8 6 1B 4

Landings(t) 2 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Sarfannguaq 10 8 6 4 1C Landings(t) 2 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

10 8 0B 6 4 1D

Landings(t) 2 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 5 10 4 8 3 6 - 2 4 1E Landings(t) 1 Landings(t) 2 0 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 10 8 6 4 1F 2G Landings(t) 2 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Effort and Landings

• 389 reports of salmon catches from 309 fishers • 208 licences, highest since 1992 • in recent years (2002 onwards), in some divisions where international samplers were present, the sampling team saw more fish than were reported as being landed – in 2010 total discrepancy equaled 5.1 t and the adjusted catch used in the assessment was 43.1 t

NAFO Division Year 1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F Total 2006 Reported 5427 2611 3424 4731 2636 4192 23021 Adjusted 2007 Reported 2019 5089 6148 4470 4828 2093 24647 Adjusted 2252 24806 2008 Reported 4882 2210 10024 1595 2457 4979 26147 Adjusted 3577 5478 28627 2009 Reported 195 6151 7090 2988 4296 4777 25497 Adjusted 5466 27975 2010 Reported 17263 4558 2363 2747 6766 4252 37949 Adjusted 4824 6566 5274 43056 International sampling program

• Samplers from Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, USA, Canada, Ireland, UK (Scotland), and UK (England & Wales) • Sampling August through October • Samplers in Sisimiut (1B), Nuuk (1D), Qaqortoq (1F) – No sampling in East Greenland

• 1265 salmon inspected for tags – 10% by weight of reported landings • 1261 for fork length • 1155 for gutted weight • 453 for whole weight • 1265 for scales samples • 1240 tissues for DNA analysis

• Enhanced Sampling Progam in 2010 (IASRB report) – 358 salmon detailed autopsies for SALSEA WG Biological Characteristics

5 River ages of samples 4 1 2 4 3

NAC NEAC 48% age 3 57% age 2 3 98% 1SW 98% 1SW 2

1SW Sea ages of samples

1SW

2SW 2SW previous sp. previous sp. Biological Characteristics Weight of salmon

• Mean weights of 1SW in 2010 were the highest since the late 1980’s • Mean weights of NAC and NEAC salmon are similar, in contrast to 1970’s to 1990 when NEAC salmon were heavier 5.0 unadjusted for date or length NAC NEAC 4.5

4.0

3.5

Whole weight (kg) weight Whole 3.0

2.5

2.0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Biological Characteristics Condition of salmon

• Adjusted for date of sampling and fork length (2002 to 2010 data) • Heaviest fish at length (64 cm) for NAC in 2009, lightest in 2005 • Heaviest fish at length for NEAC in 2002 and lightest in 2005 3500 NEAC NAC 3300

3100

2900

2700 Predictedwhole weight length fork at (g) cm 64 2500 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 • With few exceptions, no apparent change in condition of salmon at West Greenland • Pattern based on unadjusted weights is due to sampling period (most) and length (less) Tag recoveries and tag reports in 2010

• Six CWT tags recovered by samplers • 4 from Ireland • 1 from Norway • 1 from Canada • One elastomere tag from USA Origin of catches

Qeqertarsuaq

1A 1 Ilulissat 2010 Continent of Origin 15% by NAFO Divisions 0A 1B 20% Sisimiut

Sarfannguaq 85%

Kangaamiut

Maniitsoq 1C Atammik

18%

Nuuk 0B 1D Qeqertarsuatsiaat 80% 82%

North American Origin Paamiut 30% European Origin 1E Arsuk - Kangilinnguit Qassimiut Narsaq 70%

1F Qaqortoq 2G Origin of catches

NAC NEAC 100

80

60

40

20

0

1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 • Proportion NAC has been increasing since the early 1980’s Number of salmon caught at WG • Number of salmon caught at WG in 2010 • 10000 from NAC • 2600 from NEAC 25000 NAC NEAC 20000

15000

10000 Number of fish of Number

5000

0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 Summary of Stock Status

Stock complex at West Greenland is below conservation limits and thus suffering reduced reproductive capacity

• In European and North American areas, the overall status of stocks contributing to the West Greenland fishery is among the lowest re- corded, and as a result, the abundance of salmon within the West Greenland area is thought to be extremely low compared to historical levels • In 2010, North American 2SW spawner estimates for the six geographic areas indicated that all areas were below their CLs and are suffering reduced reproductive capacity • Stock complexes (Northern NEAC MSW and Southern NEAC MSW) are considered to be at full reproductive capacity. However, at a country level, stock status from several jurisdictions is below CL and further, within the countries there are many river stocks which are not meeting CLs. Recommendations

• ICES supports the proposal from the Greenlandic authorities for the introduction of a logbook as a condition of the licensing system for the salmon fishery at West Greenland

• ICES recommends a continuation and expansion of the broad geographic sampling program (multiple NAFO divisions) to more accurately estimate continent of origin and biological characteristics of the salmon in the West Greenland mixed stock fishery

• ICES recommends that SALSEA West Greenland be conducted in 2011 for a third year and that efforts continue to integrate the results from this sampling programme with results obtained from both SALSEA-Merge and SALSEA North America Acknowledgements

Members (24) of participating countries (14) to Working Group on North Atlantic Salmon, March 22-31, 2011

• WG subgroup chair: Niall Ó Maoiléidigh (Ireland)