The assessment is based upon a qualitative evaluation of stock biomass trends and recruitment indices. The last available survey that covered the complete stock area was in autumn 2020 and the last primary survey index was 2019. New vessels are being used to conduct the Canadian surveys and information from 2022 onwards is being examined for comparability to the previous survey indices used in this assessment.

The next full assessment of this stock was planned to be in 2025. However, until such time data is available to allow a full assessment, this stock will be monitored in the future by interim monitoring reports.



Fishing Mortality

Recruitment

Biomass

Human impact

Mainly fishery related mortality has been documented. Mortality from other human sources (e.g. pollution, shipping, oil-industry) are undocumented.

Biological and environmental interactions

On the Grand Bank, white hake are near the northern limit of their range, concentrating along the southwest slope of the Grand Bank at temperatures above 5°C. The major spawning area is located on the shelf-edge on the Grand Bank. Weaker ocean currents on the continental slope during the spawning period are hypothesized to reduce potential losses of eggs and larvae due to entrainment in the Labrador Current and increase recruitment potential.

White hake feed mostly on crustaceans and fish. Larger individuals are reported to be cannibalistic and to feed upon eggs and juveniles. In nearshore areas, white hake are also thought to predate on smaller juvenile cod. Predators of white hake include Atlantic cod, other fish species, Atlantic puffins, Arctic terns, other seabirds and seals.

This stock straddles the 3Ps and 3LNO Ecosystem Production Units (EPU), which have been experiencing low productivity conditions in recent years, including biomass declines across multiple trophic levels and stocks in 3LNO since 2014.