Atlantic Cod Spawning Biomass Estimates for Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Fisheries and Oceans Canada provides yearly spawning stock biomass estimates for Atlantic Cod in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO 4T-4Vn) from November to April. The data, produced via a Statistical Catch-at-Age model and Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations, includes median estimates and uncertainty percentiles (2.5th, 25th, 75th, 97.5th) measured in thousands of tons. These estimates support stock assessment and fisheries management decisions.

Use Cases

• Analyze trends in median spawning stock biomass estimates over time to assess stock recovery or decline.
• Model stock status using the provided uncertainty percentiles (2.5th, 25th, 75th, 97.5th) to quantify risk in fisheries management.
• Integrate biomass estimates with other fisheries data for ecosystem-based management in the NAFO 4T-4Vn area.

Strengths

• Estimates are derived from a formal Statistical Catch-at-Age model, a standard methodology in fisheries science.
• Data includes uncertainty estimates via four percentiles (2.5th, 25th, 75th, 97.5th) from Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations.
• Produced and updated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada following a Canadian Science Advice Secretariat (CSAS) advisory process.

Limitations

• The dataset's temporal coverage and number of yearly estimates are not specified in the provided input.
• Data is limited to the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO 4T-4Vn) and the November-April period, not year-round.
• The underlying column structure and sample size are unknown, limiting immediate analytical utility.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Statistical Catch-at-Age model and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations.

Time Range

Time series updated to year 2023.

Freshness

Data is current to the 2023 stock assessment, with metadata last updated on March 24, 2026.

Geography

Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, NAFO divisions 4T-4Vn.