Reduction in size-at-maturity in unprecedentedly strong cohorts of redfish (Sebastes mentella and S. fasciatus) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Laurentian Channel.

Life-history traits, such as size-at-maturity, are key parameters to model population dynamics used to inform fisheries management. Fishery-induced evolution, density-dependent effects, and global warming have been shown to affect size- and age-at-maturity, and resulting spawning stock biomass (SSB) in a wide range of commercial fish stocks. Marked changes in redfish biomass and environmental conditions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Laurentian Channel over the past decade called for a review and update of size-at-maturity for commercially important deepwater redfish Sebastes mentella and Acadian redfish Sebastes fasciatus stocks. Following a 25-year moratorium, local redfish biomass has recently reached unprecedented levels, co-occurring with an overall warming of bottom water temperatures. Our objectives were (1) to perform a histological assessment of redfish reproduction stages, including the validation and fine-tuning of a robust visual chart to facilitate monitoring of size-at-maturity and SSB in a transforming environment, and (2) to evaluate changes in size-at-maturity in unprecedentedly strong cohorts of redfish, and consequences for stock status assessment and fisheries management. Each specimen was genetically identified to species, and gonad reproduction stages were determined by histology and macroscopic appearances. The present study enabled a robust visual chart for continued and cost-effective monitoring of redfish reproduction stages to be refined and validated, and has shown a large decrease in redfish length when 50% of the individuals are considered mature that led to an increase in estimates of SSB during the 2011-2021 period for S. mentella and S. fasciatus. These changes modified the perception of stock status, thus having significant implications for fisheries management. Given that fishery-induced evolution and community structure changes along with global warming are affecting numerous stocks worldwide, the present study outlines a major and global challenge for scientists and resources managers. As shown by our results, the monitoring and frequent updates of life-history traits in transforming environments are needed to provide reliable science advice for sustainable fisheries.

Spatial distribution and speciation of mercury in a recovering deepwater redfish (Sebastes mentella) population from St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf, Canada.

Mercury (Hg) pollution poses a significant threat to the environment, particularly in the form of methylmercury (MeHg). However, little is known about the distribution and influencing factors of Hg in deep-sea (>200m) fish, which is crucial for assessing potential health risks to fish and humans. In Canada, the deepwater redfish (Sebastes mentella) has been designated as an endangered species. After a 25-year fishing moratorium, the redfish population in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf is recovering, and resuming of commercial fishing and human consumption are expected. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of MeHg and total Hg (THg) in the muscle of redfish, as well as the factors influencing its distribution, and to assess the potential human health risks associated with redfish consumption. The redfish samples (n = 123) were collected by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2019. The concentrations of THg and MeHg in redfish muscle were determined to be 93.3 ± 183 ng/g (mean ± SD, wet weight) and 78.2 ± 149 ng/g, respectively. Large redfish (>30 cm) accumulated 20 to 30 times more Hg than small redfish (17-30 cm). Small redfish from the Estuary-Western Gulf had higher levels of MeHg and THg than those from the Laurentian Channel and the Northeast Gulf, but the Hg availability to redfish among the three areas were similar. Significant predictors of MeHg concentrations in redfish muscle were determined to be fish length, muscle moisture, δ15N, and N%. MeHg consumption by the general population with an average fish consumption rate is not anticipated to have adverse effects. This study establishes a baseline for future Hg monitoring in the deep water environments in this region. Further research is required to elucidate the cause-effect relationships between various environmental/biological parameters and Hg accumulation in deep-sea biota.

Population genomics and history of speciation reveal fishery management gaps in two related redfish species (Sebastes mentella and Sebastes fasciatus).

Understanding the processes shaping population structure and reproductive isolation of marine organisms can improve their management and conservation. Using genomic markers combined with estimation of individual ancestries, assignment tests, spatial ecology, and demographic modeling, we (i) characterized the contemporary population structure, (ii) assessed the influence of space, fishing depth, and sampling years on contemporary distribution, and (iii) reconstructed the speciation history of two cryptic redfish species, Sebastes mentella and S. fasciatus. We genotyped 860 individuals in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean using 24,603 filtered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Our results confirmed the clear genetic distinctiveness of the two species and identified three ecotypes within S. mentella and five populations in S. fasciatus. Multivariate analyses highlighted the influence of spatial distribution and depth on the overall genomic variation, while demographic modeling revealed that secondary contact models best explained inter- and intragenomic divergence. These species, ecotypes, and populations can be considered as a rare and wide continuum of genomic divergence in the marine environment. This acquired knowledge pertaining to the evolutionary processes driving population divergence and reproductive isolation will help optimizing the assessment of demographic units and possibly to refine fishery management units.

Habitat-based polymorphism is common in stream fishes.

Morphological differences (size and shape) across habitats are common in lake fish where differences relate to two dominant contrasting habitats: the pelagic and littoral habitat. Repeated occurrence of littoral and pelagic morphs across multiple populations of several lake fish species has been considered as important evidence that polymorphism is adaptive in these systems. It has been suggested that these habitat-based polymorphic differences are due to the temporal stability of the differences between littoral and pelagic habitats. Although streams are spatially heterogeneous, they are also more temporally dynamic than lakes and it is still an open question whether streams provide the environmental conditions that promote habitat-based polymorphism. We tested whether fish from riffle, run and pool habitats, respectively, differed consistently in their morphology. Our test compared patterns of morphological variation (size and shape) in 10 fish species from the three stream habitat types in 36 separate streams distributed across three watersheds. For most species, body size and shape (after controlling for body size) differed across riffle, run and pool habitats. Unlike many lake species, the nature of these differences was not consistent across species, possibly because these species use these habitat types in different ways. Our results suggest that habitat-based polymorphism is an important feature also in stream fishes despite the fact that streams are temporally variable in contrast to lake systems. Future research is required to assess whether the patterns of habitat-based polymorphism encountered in streams have a genetic basis or they are simply the result of within generation phenotypic plasticity.