ICES Advice 2005, Volume 11 - Technical Services

1 NORTH ATLANTIC SALMON STOCKS

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Requests from NASCO to ICES 1

1.3 Management framework for salmon in the North Atlantic 2

1.4 Management objectives 2

1.5 Reference points and application of precaution 3

2 ATLANTIC SALMON IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC AREA 4

2.1 Catches of North Atlantic Salmon 4

2.1.1 Nominal catches of salmon 4

2.1.2 Catch and release 4

2.1.3 Unreported catches of salmon 4

2.2 Production of farmed and ranched salmon 5

2.3 NASCO has asked ICES to report on significant developments which might assist NASCO with the management of salmon stocks 5

2.3.1 Update on the estimation of natural mortality at sea of Atlantic salmon 5

2.3.2 Progress in developing precautionary catch advice for Irish salmon fisheries 5

2.3.3 Catch and release 6

2.3.4 Regional growth patterns 6

2.3.5 Long-term projections for stock rebuilding 7

2.3.5.1 Long-term projections of PFA for North America 7

2.3.5.2 Potential for rebuilding two multi-sea-winter salmon stocks of the Maritime Provinces 7

2.3.5.3 Catch advice and projected attainment of conservation limits for and Irish salmon fishing district 8

2.3.5.4 DST tagging of salmon in the Norwegian Sea 9

2.4 Compilation of tag releases and finclip data by ICES Member Countries in 2004 9

2 NORTHEAST ATLANTIC COMMISSION 19

3.1 Status of stocks/exploitation 19

3.2 Management objectives 20

3.3 Reference points 20

3.3.1 Progress with setting river-specific conservation limits 20

3.3.2 National Conservation Limits 21

3.4 Advice on management 21

3.5 Relevant factors to be considered in management 22

3.6 Catch forecast for 2005 22

3.7 Medium- to long-term projections 22

3.8 Comparison with previous assessment 22

3.9 NASCO has requested ICES to describe the key events of the 2004 fisheries and the status of the stocks 23

3.9.1 Fishing in the Faroese area 2003/2004 commercial fishery 23

3.9.2 Significant events in NEAC homewater fisheries in 2004 23

3.9.3 Gear and effort 23

3.9.4 Catches 23

3.9.5 Catch per unit effort (CPUE) 24

3.9.6 Age composition of catches 24

3.9.7 Farmed and ranched salmon in catches 24

3.9.8 National origin of catches 24

3.10 NASCO has requested ICES to provide any new information on the extent to which the objectives of any significant management measures introduced in recent years have been achieved 25

3.11 NASCO has requested ICES to provide an estimate of bycatch of salmon in pelagic fisheries 26

3.11.1 Estimate of bycatch of salmon in pelagic fisheries 26

3.11.2 Sampling of post-smolts and pre-adults in Norway and the Norwegian Sea 28

4 NORTH AMERICAN COMMISSION 34

4.1 Status of stocks/exploitation 34

4.2 Management objectives 35

4.3 Reference points 35

4.4 Advice on management 35

4.5 Relevant factors to be considered in management 35

4.6 Catch forecast for 2005 35

4.7 Medium- to long-term projections 36

4.8 Comparison with previous assessment and advice 36

4.9 NASCO has asked ICES to describe the key events of the 2004 fisheries and the status of the stocks 36

4.9.1 Gear and effort 36

4.9.2 Catches in 2004 37

4.9.3 Origin and composition of catches 38

4.9.4 Exploitation rates 38

4.9.5 Pre-Fishery Abundance 38

4.10 NASCO has requested ICES to evaluate the extent to which the objectives of any significant management measures introduced in the last five years have been achieved 39

4.11 NASCO has asked ICES to provide an analysis of any new biological and/or tag return data to identify the origin and biological characteristics of Atlantic salmon caught at St. Pierre and Miquelon 39

4.12 Data deficiencies and research needs 39

5 ATLANTIC SALMON IN THE WEST GREENLAND COMMISSION 49

5.1 Status of stocks/exploitation 49

5.2 Management objectives 50

5.3 Reference points 50

5.4 Advice on management 50

5.5 Relevant factors to be considered in management 51

5.6 Catch forecast for 2005 51

5.7 Medium- to long-term projections 51

5.8 Comparison with previous assessment and advice 51

5.9 NASCO has requested ICES to describe the events of the 2004 fishery and status of the stocks 51

5.9.1 Catch and effort in 2004 52

5.9.2 Biological characteristics of the catches 52

5.9.3 NASCO has requested ICES to provide information on the origin of Atlantic salmon caught at West Greenland at a finer resolution than continent of origin (river stocks, country, or stock complexes) 53

5.10 NASCO has requested ICES to provide a detailed explanation and critical examination of any changes to the models used to provide catch advice 53

5.10.1 North American Forecast Model 53

5.10.2 Critical evaluation of model updates 54

5.11 Provide any new information on the extent to which the objectives of any significant

management measures introduced in recent years have been achieved 54

5.12 Data deficiencies and research needs 54

6 NASCO has requested ICES to identify relevant data deficiencies, monitoring needs, and research requirements, taking into account NASCO's International Atlantic Salmon Research Board's inventory of on-going research relating to salmon mortality in the sea 63

6.1 Data deficiencies and research needs 63

APPENDIX References 65