Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence Fixed Gear Sentinel Fisheries Data

A sentinel fisheries program established in fall 1994 collects catch and biological data for Atlantic cod stock assessment in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. The program results from collaboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and commercial fishermen's associations in Quebec and Newfoundland. Data includes total catch weights by species, individual cod fork lengths, and biological measurements such as weight, age, sex, and maturity from a subsample.

Use Cases

• Calculate Atlantic cod abundance indices using total catch weight and fork length measurements from fishing sets.
• Analyze species composition and catch per set data for non-cod fish taxa to assess ecosystem impacts.
• Study biological trends in Atlantic cod populations using subsample data on individual weight, age, sex, and maturity.
• Examine fishing effort and gear specifications, such as mesh size and hook count, in relation to catch outcomes across NAFO divisions 3Pn, 4R, and 4S.

Strengths

• Program has been operational since fall 1994, providing a long-term time series for stock assessment.
• Data collection follows scientific protocols developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, ensuring standardized methods.
• Includes detailed biological measurements on a subsample of Atlantic cod, covering weight, age, sex, and maturity.

Limitations

• Only fishing sets deemed successful have been retained in the dataset, potentially introducing selection bias.
• Historical data may contain inaccuracies as noted in the source description.
• The most recent survey data is not available for validation purposes, limiting immediate analysis of current trends.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in collaboration with Quebec and Newfoundland commercial fishermen's associations.

Collection Method

Data collected by observers at sea or technicians during fixed gillnet or longline fishing activities conducted under scientific protocols.

Time Range

Program active since fall 1994.

Freshness

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Geography

Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, specifically NAFO sub-division 3Pn and divisions 4R and 4S.