Marine Stewardship Council Assessment Public Comment Draft Report For the: US Acadian Redfish, Pollock and Haddock Otter Trawl Fishery On behalf of: Sustainable Groundfish Association, Inc. Report Assessors: Ivan Mateo (Team Leader) John Musick Don Aldous Client Name: Sustainable Groundfish Association, Inc. Report Code: Public Comment Draft Report Report Date: 16th March 2016 CAB: SAI Global 3rd Floor Block 3 Quayside Business Park Mill Street Dundalk, Co. Louth Ireland Tel: +353 42 9320912 Fax: +353 42 9386864 W: www.saiglobal.com Version 1.3, 15th January 2013 i Contents 1. MSC Fishery Assessment Report ................................................................................................................ 6 2. Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1. Acadian Redfish/Haddock/Pollock fishery key strengths and weaknesses ..................................................... 10 2.2. Assessment Results .......................................................................................................................................... 10 2.3. Conditions for continued certification ............................................................................................................. 11 2.4. Certification Recommendation ........................................................................................................................ 11 2.5. Assessment Process ......................................................................................................................................... 12 3. Authorship and Peer Reviewers .............................................................................................................. 13 3.1. Assessment team ............................................................................................................................................. 13 3.2. Peer Reviewers ................................................................................................................................................ 14 4. Description of the Fishery ....................................................................................................................... 15 4.1. Unit of Certification and scope of certification sought .............................................................................. 15 4.1.1. Eligibility for Certification against the MSC Standard ......................................................................... 16 4.1.2. Eligible fishers ..................................................................................................................................... 16 4.1.3. Scope of Assessment in Relation to Enhanced Fisheries .................................................................... 16 4.1.4. Scope of Assessment in Relation to Introduced Species Based Fisheries (ISBF) ................................ 16 4.2. Overview of the fishery ............................................................................................................................... 17 4.2.1. Biology of the target species .................................................................................................................... 17 4.2.2. Fishing area ............................................................................................................................................... 20 4.2.3. History of the Acadian Redfish/Haddock/Pollock Otter Trawl Fishery ..................................................... 21 4.2.4. Catches ...................................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2.5. Fishing season ........................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2.6. Fishing methods and fleet description ..................................................................................................... 22 4.2.7. Market information .................................................................................................................................. 23 4.3. Principle One: Target Species Background ................................................................................................. 24 4.3.1. Stock assessment ...................................................................................................................................... 24 4.3.2. Stock status ............................................................................................................................................... 28 4.3.3a. Uncertainties ........................................................................................................................................... 35 4.3.4a. Reference points ..................................................................................................................................... 36 4.3.5a. Harvest Strategy, Harvest Control Rules and Tools ................................................................................ 38 4.4. Principle Two: Ecosystem Background ....................................................................................................... 40 4.4.1 Physical Environment ................................................................................................................................. 40 4.4.2 Role of Acadian Redfish, Haddock, and Pollock in the Ecosystem ............................................................ 41 4.4.2 Retained Species ........................................................................................................................................ 41 4.4.3 Bycatch Species .......................................................................................................................................... 49 Version 1.3, 15th January 2013 i 4.4.4. Endangered, Threatened, or Protected (ETP) Species .............................................................................. 52 4.4.5 Habitats ...................................................................................................................................................... 57 4.4.6 Ecosystem .................................................................................................................................................. 65 4.5. Principle Three: Management System Background ................................................................................... 68 4.5.1 The Legal Basis and Scope of the Management System ............................................................................ 68 4.5.2 Consultation Processes .............................................................................................................................. 68 4.5.3 Long Term Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 68 4.5.4 Incentives for Sustainable Fishing.............................................................................................................. 69 4.5.5 Fishery Specific Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 69 4.5.6 Decision-Making Process ........................................................................................................................... 75 4.5.7. Monitoring, Control and Surveillance ....................................................................................................... 75 4.5.8. Research Plan ............................................................................................................................................ 75 4.5.9. Monitoring and Evaluation of the Haddock Management System .......................................................... 76 5. Evaluation Procedure .............................................................................................................................. 77 5.1. Harmonised Fishery Assessment ................................................................................................................ 77 5.2. Previous assessments ................................................................................................................................. 93 5.3. Assessment Methodologies ........................................................................................................................ 93 5.4. Evaluation Processes and Techniques ........................................................................................................ 96 5.4.1. Site Visit .................................................................................................................................................... 96 5.4.2. Consultations ............................................................................................................................................ 96 5.4.3 Evaluation Techniques ........................................................................................................................ 98 6. Traceability ........................................................................................................................................... 101 6.1 Eligibility Date ........................................................................................................................................... 101 6.2 Traceability within the Fishery .......................................................................................................................