Harvesters Applaud Long-Overdue Changes to Northern Shrimp Assessment; New Model Moves Species into Healthy Zone

ST. JOHN’S, NL – FFAW-Unifor welcomes the updated Northern Shrimp assessment model, which officially shifts the species into the healthy zone under revised stock areas, assessment model and reference points.  FFAW scientist Dr. Erin Carruthers participated in the assessment process, along with shrimp harvesters Chris Rose and Heather Starkes, who praised the innovative and collaborative approach to align the assessment process with ecosystem realities.

“This is a long overdue recognition of the ecological realities in Newfoundland and Labrador marine ecosystems. We appreciate the considerable efforts to solve this long-standing issue and the commitment of shrimp harvesters and Dr. Erin Carruthers, to see this effort through to the end,” says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street, adding that, “the next step, of course, is to ensure inshore fleets’ access and allocations reflect the change in stock status.”

For nearly 12 years, FFAW-Unifor has argued that the previous LRP in former Shrimp Fishing Area (SFA) 6 was unrealistic and unattainable in an ecosystem with a healthy groundfish population. The new stock assessment model tracks natural mortality, driven by predation in the southern assessment region, resulting in a more realistic estimate of shrimp carrying capacity.

Before the collapse of groundfish stocks, northern shrimp biomass off Newfoundland and Labrador’s northeast coast was comparable to current levels. The updated assessment, particularly in the southern region, confirms that shrimp biomass aligns with pre-surge levels, reflecting a healthier ecosystem with recovering predator populations. The revised stock structure and model—accepted during the December 2024 Framework Assessment—also address inconsistencies in reference periods and shrimp movement across former SFAs. Harvesters should take note of the new assessment regions, with the former SFA 6 grouped with SFA7 and the southern half of SFA5.

“The technical briefing provided today is the result of years of effort by DFO Science to better align the stock assessment with shrimp ecology and changing marine ecosystems,” says Dr. Erin Carruthers, “While the shift in stock status may be surprising to some, the revised reference points are consistent with the history and biology of the stock.”

Looking ahead, FFAW-Unifor anticipates critical discussions at the upcoming Northern Shrimp Advisory Committee (NSAC) meeting taking place later this month in Halifax. These talks will focus on mapping the new assessment onto existing management measures, ensuring the inshore fleet’s access and allocations reflect the changes in perceived stock health. The Union is eager to collaborate with the federal government for a more sensible approach to shrimp fishery management, including implementing an earlier opening date.