Assessment of the status of div. 4X/5Y haddock in 2002 : Évaluation de l'état du stock d'aiglefin des divisions 4X5Y en 2002

The TAC of 8,100t established for the 12-month fishery in 1999 was extended to 9,800t for the 15-month period ending March 31, 2000, based on the proportion of landings in the first quarter of the year over the last 10 years. [...] This assessment includes the research vessel survey data in the current year 2002, together with commercial landings data for the first half of the year and commercial samples of those landings, to determine stock status in the current year and to make yield projections for the fishing year 2003/4. [...] The change in timing of the fishery has resulted in a change in the distribution of catches. [...] While the increase in 4Xn is largely result of the increase in the winter fishery, the increases in changes in 4Xp likely reflects directing for larger haddock in deeper water. [...] The 1998 yearclass is the largest in the RV survey series and the 1999 yearclass is the third largest (Figure 13).