Red Hake Stock Structure Data Scoping Webinar

Meeting Purpose:

1. Introduction to the Red Hake Stock Structure Working Group process and people
2. To determine the data available for the evaluation of red hake stock structure and catchability.
3. To discuss who will be performing what analyses in order to minimize redundancy and ensure that all priority topics are covered
4. To discuss logistics for the in person meeting scheduled for January 6, 2020 – January 8, 2020

Meeting Agenda: 

1. Introduction of working group members
2. Review of currently defined stock structure and the assessment methodology
3. New and existing data relevant to red hake stock structure
4. Data relevant to catchability analysis
5. Analyses to pursue
6. Industry observations and insights
7. Process going forward

Terms of Reference

1. Review and summarize all relevant literature on the existing stock structure of red hake in the northwest Atlantic.

2. Identify and evaluate any new and/or existing data relevant to the stock structure of red hake including but not limited to the species’ life history (i.e. spawning, distribution, abundance, growth, maturity and natural mortality), morphometrics, and genetics.

3. Recommend the most likely biological stock structure among a set of alternatives from TOR2.  Consider the current management unit as null hypothesis.

4. Evaluate existing experimental data on survey catchability of red hake. Examine the sufficiency of catchability data and, if appropriate, incorporate the catchability estimates into the assessment.

5. Apply the existing assessment model framework to the stock structure based on TOR 3 and 4 to ensure its utility in subsequent management track assessments.  Evaluate existing reference points.

6. Identify gaps in the existing research with respect to red hake stock structure. Develop a prioritized list of research recommendations to address these gaps. Comment on the feasibility and time horizon of the proposed research recommendations.