Overview
The general purpose of the Canada 3LNO American plaice FIP process is to improve the likelihood that this Canadian offshore fishery will pass the main assessment to receive MSC certification. Current markets for American plaice include the USA for fillets and Asia for H&G, with future market opportunities in Europe. MSC certification will be key for future sales opportunities. The FIP endeavors to improve information about the stock assessment, recovery planning, and fishery information on both target and bycatch species. Additional key goals for this FIP include habitat impact identification and improving management objectives and tools for the fishery.
The directed fishery for this stock of American plaice is currently in a moratorium. There is bycatch in other directed groundfish fisheries. The volume of directed catch is currently set at 0 and a control is set for bycatch.
The general purpose of the Canada 3LNO American plaice FIP process is to improve the likelihood that this Canadian offshore fishery will pass the main assessment to receive MSC certification.
The overall objective for this FIP is successful MSC certification of the fishery. FIP Objectives which have been met include:
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Improve catch verification and estimation system.
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Evaluate catch profile and status of main bycatch species.
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Produce a fishery footprint relative to both sensitive and less sensitive benthic habitat.
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Develop an IFMP for the 3LNO American Plaice fishery addressing all elements for which PIs exist.
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Develop fishery-specific objectives and incorporate them into IFMP.
Individual FIP objectives remaining to be achieved by December 2024 are:
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Project stock recovery time once SSB surpasses Blim.
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Confirm appropriateness of current stock model.