Quantifying spatial dynamics and stock structure of Atlantic halibut within the Gulf of St. Lawrence to improve sustainable exploitation and management

大西洋大比目鱼(Hippoglossus Parglossus)养活了大西洋加拿大单位重量最有价值的底层鱼类。尽管对加拿大5个省具有很高的社会经济重要性，但圣劳伦斯湾(GSL)的种群目前在有限的科学知识下进行管理，使渔业容易受到生态系统条件变化的影响。这项研究旨在产生新的知识，以改进对GSL大西洋比目鱼的评估和管理。其主要目标是通过为设计专门的种群调查提供信息，促进对资源的最佳和可持续开发。这将通过五个具体目标实现：(1)通过对成年鱼进行卫星标记，评估整个管理单位内深度和温度关系的时空变异性；(2)利用卫星标记记录的深度和温度每日变化的地理定位模型，揭示分布和季节性迁徙模式；(3)确定关键行为的时间和位置，如产卵和摄食活动，这对种群评估和调查设计具有影响；(4)利用结合产卵地点、卵和仔鱼孵化期的知识的循环模型，确定潜在的育苗区；以及(5)通过使用耳石化学量化生活史上的活动来评估墨西哥湾不同部门之间的连通性。在短期内，这一方案的结果将有助于设计一项新的调查，并为改进渔业管理提供基础，包括基于资源丰富的捕捞配额。在中期，该计划将为行业未来与生态认证相关的选择提供必要的科学信息，这通常会提供进入高端市场和更高的落地价值的机会。从长远来看，作为该项目的一部分接受培训的学生和博士后将在一个国家层面发现严重短缺的部门担任关键的学术、政府和行业职位。

Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) supports the most valuable groundfish fishery per-unit-weight in Atlantic Canada. Despite high socio-economic importance for 5 Canadian provinces, the stock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL) is currently managed under limited scientific knowledge, making the fishery vulnerable to changing ecosystem conditions. This research aims to generate new knowledge to improve the assessment and management of GSL Atlantic halibut. The main objective is to facilitate the optimal and sustainable exploitation of the resource by informing the design of a dedicated survey for the stock. This will be achieved through five specific objectives: (1) assess spatio-temporal variability in depth and temperature associations within the whole management unit through satellite tagging of adult fish; (2) reveal distribution and seasonal migration patterns using a geolocation model that relies on daily changes in depth and temperature recorded by satellite tags; (3) identify the timing and location of key behaviours such as spawning and feeding activity, which have implications for stock assessment and survey design; (4) locate potential nursery areas using a circulation model with the combined knowledge of spawning location, and egg and larval incubation period; and (5) assess connectivity among different sectors of the Gulf by quantifying movements through life history using otolith chemistry. In the short term, results from this program will facilitate the design of a new survey and provide a basis for improved management of the fishery including fishing quotas based on abundance of the resource. In the mid-term, the program will provide scientific information necessary for future choices by industry related to eco-certification, which typically gives access to premium markets and higher landed value. In the longer term, the students and postdoctoral fellow trained as part of this program will take key academic, government and industry positions in a sector where a severe shortage has been identified at the national level.**