Lumpfish Catch Rates in Gulf of St. Lawrence Since 1990

Since 1990, this dataset contains standardized lumpfish catch rates from annual August research surveys in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is compiled by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to assess groundfish and shrimp stocks, with catch variables calculated based on a standardized sampling area of 0.02353 km² per tow.

Use Cases

• Analyze standardized catch rate trends over time to assess lumpfish population dynamics in NAFO divisions 3PN and 4RST.
• Model spatial distribution of catch rates using geospatial data from the SHP and ESRI REST formats.
• Investigate the impact of the 2005-2009 gear change on catch rate indices for lumpfish.
• Use the standardized sampling unit (0.75 nautical mile tow, 16.94 m wing spread) to compare catch efficiency across survey years.

Strengths

• Long-term temporal coverage from 1990 onwards, providing over two decades of annual survey data.
• Data is standardized using a consistent sampling unit (0.75 nautical mile tow over 0.02353 km²) for comparability.
• Compiled by a national fisheries agency (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) with documented methodology in technical reports.

Limitations

• Sample size and row count are unknown, limiting assessment of statistical power.
• A known gear change between 2005-2009 introduces a potential discontinuity in catch rate comparability for that period.
• Data availability for individual biometric parameters (e.g., length, weight, sex) is not confirmed in the provided description.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Standardized research trawl surveys conducted annually in August, with catch sorted by taxa and biometric parameters recorded from subsamples.

Time Range

1990 onwards

Freshness

Updated to March 2026, indicating recent maintenance.

Geography

Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO divisions 3PN and 4RST)