Yellowtail flounder

The stock occurs in Divisions 3LNO, mainly concentrated on the southern Grand Bank and is recruited from the Southeast Shoal area nursery ground (Parsons et al. 2015).

Fishing mortality up to 85% F_MSY corresponding to a catch of 26 000 t in 2014 and 23 500 t in 2015 has low risk (<5%) of exceeding F_lim, and is projected to maintain the stock well above B_MSY (Parsons et al. 2015)

B_lim is 30% B_MSY and F_lim is F_MSY.

The stock size has steadily increased since 1994 and is now well above B_MSY. There is very low risk of the stock being below Bmsy or F being above F_MSY. Recent recruitment appears about average (Parsons et al. 2015).

Catch of yellowtail flounder has been low in recent years. If catches increase fishing mortality on Div. 3NO cod and Div. 3LNO American plaice will also increase.

Canadian and Spanish surveys show the stock size has increased since the moratorium on directed fishing was declared in 1994. The 2011 and 2012 survey estimates of biomass were among the highest in the series for the Canadian spring and fall surveys and also for the Spanish spring surveys. The 2013 assessment uses ASPIC version 5.34 with updated catch and survey biomass indices for 2011 and 2012 to produce relative biomass and fishing mortality estimates. Relative biomass remains high in 2012 (1.7 times B_MSY) and fishing mortality remains low (F₂₀₁₂=0.09 F_MSY). Projections in the short and medium term are also updated and results are presented in a precautionary approach framework (Parsons et al. 2015).

Yellowtail flounder is caught in a directed trawl fishery and as by-catch in other trawl fisheries. The fishery is regulated by quota and minimum size restrictions. American plaice and cod, are taken as by-catch in the yellowtail flounder fishery. There is a 15% bycatch restriction on American plaice and a 4% bycatch limit on cod in Div. 3NO (Parsons et al. 2015).

No explicit management plan or management objectives are defined by Fisheries Commission. General convention objectives (GC Doc. 08/3) are applied. Advice is provided in the context of the Precautionary Approach Framework (FC Doc. 04/18).

Effects of this fishery on endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species have not been reported (Parsons et al. 2015).

Within NAFO fisheries, specific measures cover the conservation and management of sharks, with mandatory reporting of all catches and a requirement that the weight of fins not exceed 5% of the weight of sharks onboard. Non-directed catches of live sharks are encouraged to be released (NAFO, 2010a). A number of sharks, rays and skates are classified as at risk on the IUCN Red List for the North-west Atlantic (IUCN, 2010).

Cod and American plaice are bycatch of this fishery and the impacts on the Division 3NO cod stock and the Division 3LNO American plaice stock must be considered when setting TACs for yellowtail flounder (NAFO, 2009b). American plaice is currently depleted and 3NO cod has been under moratorium to directed fishery since 1994, with bycatch recommended to be kept as low as possible (NAFO, 2010b).

Bycatch of commercial species for which the vessel does not possess a quota must not exceed the greater of 2500 kg or 10% of catches, and species whose fishing is banned or whose quota has been reached must not exceed the greater of 1250 kg or 5% (DFO, 2010a).

Fishing intensity on yellowtail flounder has impacts on Div. 3NO cod and Div. 3LNO American plaice through bycatch. General impacts of fishing gears on the ecosystem should also be considered (Parsons et al. 2015).

In general bottom trawling causes adverse effects on benthic communities and habitats, but these effects are not uniform, depending on the seafloor habitats, the communities present, the type and frequency of the gear used and past fishing activities in the area (DFO, 2006).

Bottom trawling areas within NAFO fisheries have been mapped and fishing in new areas or with new gear is subject to an assessment procedure following which either conservation and management measures will be introduced or fishing not permitted (NAFO, 2010a). Corals are found on the slopes of the Grand Banks and several closures are in force (NAFO, 2010a).

Mainly fishery related mortality has been documented. Other sources (e.g. pollution, shipping, oil-industry) are undocumented.

Last updated on 02 Sep 2016

The directed yellowtail fishery in Division 3NO closes from June 15 to July 31 (DFO, 2009).

A large coral closure area has been declared on the south-western slope of the Grand Banks from 2008 to the end of 2012 to all bottom-contacting gears. Three further areas of coral and sponges on the eastern slope have been closed for the duration of 2010 and 2011 (NAFO, 2010a).