Intertek Moody Marine. Clearwater Banquereau Arctic Surfclam Fishery: Assessment Report Intertek Moody Marine Ref: 82351/v3 Assessors: Dr. Andy Brand, Dr. Rob Blyth-Skyrme and John Angel MSC Assessment Report for Banquereau Arctic Surfclam Fishery Client: Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership Version: 3 Public Comment Draft Report Certification Body: Client Contact: Intertek Moody Marine Christine Penney 99 Wyse Road Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership Suite 815 757 Bedford Highway Dartmouth Bedford Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Canada B4A 3Z7 Tel: +1 422 4511 Canada Fax: +1 422 9780 Tel: +44 (0) 1332 544663 Fax: +44 (0) 1332 675020 FCM 15 v1 Rev 01 Page 1 Intertek Moody Marine. Clearwater Banquereau Arctic Surfclam Fishery: Assessment Report CONTENTS 1 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................. 5 2 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 THE FISHERY PROPOSED FOR CERTIFICATION ............................................................................................ 7 2.2 REPORT STRUCTURE AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS ..................................................................................... 7 2.3 STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS ATTENDED ........................................................................................................ 8 2.4 OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES ................................................................................................................ 8 3 GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE REPORT ........................ 15 4 BACKGROUND TO THE FISHERY ..................................................................................................... 16 4.1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2 BIOLOGY OF THE TARGET SPECIES .......................................................................................................... 16 4.3 HISTORY OF THE FISHERY ....................................................................................................................... 18 4.4 FLEET AND GEAR DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................. 20 4.4.1 Vessels .......................................................................................................................................... 20 4.4.2 Gear .............................................................................................................................................. 21 5 STOCK ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................... 23 5.1 MANAGEMENT UNIT ............................................................................................................................... 23 5.2 ASSESSMENTS AND STOCK STATUS ......................................................................................................... 23 5.2.1 Stock differentiation..................................................................................................................... 23 5.2.2 Catch and landings ...................................................................................................................... 23 5.2.3 Survey biomass and abundance trends ....................................................................................... 25 5.2.4 Size distribution ............................................................................................................................ 29 5.2.5 Assessment models ....................................................................................................................... 30 5.2.6 Biological reference points .......................................................................................................... 32 5.2.7 Fishing mortality .......................................................................................................................... 32 5.2.8 Recruitment .................................................................................................................................. 33 5.2.9 Natural Mortality ......................................................................................................................... 34 5.2.10 Incidental mortality ................................................................................................................. 35 5.2.11 Stock status .............................................................................................................................. 35 5.3 MANAGEMENT ADVICE ........................................................................................................................... 36 6 FISHERY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................... 38 6.1 FISHING RIGHTS, LICENSING ETC ............................................................................................................. 38 6.2 FISHING LOCATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 38 6.3 ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AND BOUNDARIES ........................................................................... 38 6.4 LEGISLATION AND REGULATION ............................................................................................................. 39 6.5 HARVEST CONTROLS ............................................................................................................................... 39 6.6 MONITORING, CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE ........................................................................................ 40 6.7 CONSULTATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION ........................................................................................... 40 7 ECOSYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................................... 41 7.1 ECOSYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................................................... 41 7.2 BY-CATCH AND DISCARDING ................................................................................................................... 43 7.3 ENDANGERED, THREATENED OR PROTECTED (ETP) SPECIES ................................................................... 46 7.4 HABITAT EFFECTS ................................................................................................................................... 47 7.5 ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS .............................................................................................................................. 49 8 OTHER FISHERIES AFFECTING THE TARGET STOCK.............................................................. 51 9 STANDARD USED ................................................................................................................................... 52 9.1 PRINCIPLE 1 ............................................................................................................................................ 52 9.2 PRINCIPLE 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 52 9.3 PRINCIPLE 3 ............................................................................................................................................ 53 10 BACKGROUND TO THE EVALUATION ........................................................................................... 55 10.1 EVALUATION TEAM............................................................................................................................ 55 10.2 PREVIOUS CERTIFICATION EVALUATIONS ........................................................................................... 55 FCM 15 v1 Rev 01 Page 2 Intertek Moody Marine. Clearwater Banquereau Arctic Surfclam Fishery: Assessment Report 10.3 INSPECTIONS OF THE FISHERY ............................................................................................................ 55 11 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ..................................................................................................... 57 11.1 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION.......................................................................................................... 57 11.2 STAKEHOLDER ISSUES ........................................................................................................................ 57 12 OBSERVATIONS AND SCORING ........................................................................................................ 58 12.1 INTRODUCTION TO SCORING METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................... 58 13 LIMIT OF IDENTIFICATION OF LANDINGS FROM THE FISHERY ......................................... 59 13.1 TRACEABILITY WITHIN THE FISHERY .................................................................................................. 59 13.2 AT-SEA PROCESSING ........................................................................................................................... 59 13.3 POINTS OF LANDING ........................................................................................................................... 59 13.4 ELIGIBILITY TO ENTER CHAINS OF