1 Indicator category

[Fill by hand, needs decision by Council]

2 Indicator name

Relative condition

Includes variable(s): Acadian redfish, American plaice, Atlantic cod, Atlantic croaker, Atlantic halibut, Atlantic herring, Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic menhaden, Atlantic wolffish, Barndoor skate, Black sea bass, Blackbelly rosefish, Bluefish, Bluntnose stingray, Bullnose ray, Butterfish, Clearnose skate, Cownose ray, Cusk, Fourspot, Goosefish, Haddock, Little skate, Longhorn sculpin, Ocean pout, Offshore hake, Pollock, Red hake, Rosette skate, Roughtail stingray, Scup, Sea raven, Silver hake, Smooth dogfish, Smooth skate, Spiny butterfly ray, Spiny dogfish, Spot, Spotted hake, Summer flounder, Thorny skate, Weakfish, White hake, Windowpane, Winter flounder, Winter skate, Witch flounder, Yellowtail flounder

3 Indicator brief description

NEFSC fall bottom trawl survey relative condition

4 Indicator visualization

MAB: Condition factor for fish species in the MAB based on fall NEFSC bottom trawl survey data. MAB data are missing for 2017 due to survey delays, and no survey was conducted in 2020. A pattern of generally good condition was observed across many MAB species prior to 2000, followed by a period of generally poor condition from 2001-2010, with a mix of good and poor condition from 2011-2019. Condition was again mixed in 2024, but a number of species improved in condition from the relatively low condition in 2021 GOM and GB: Relative condition for fish species in the GOM and on GB based on fall NEFSC bottom trawl survey data. No survey was conducted in 2020. A pattern of generally good condition was observed across many species in the GOM and GB regions prior to 2000, followed by a period of generally poor condition from 2001-2010, with a mix of good and poor condition from 2011-2019. Condition in 2024 was generally poor across most species on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine. Preliminary General Additive Models show that for many species, temperature and copepod size structure have the strongest associations with relative fish condition. Directional trends show that some species are improving in condition with increases in water temperature, likely as a result of increased metabolic rates with sufficient food availability. Whereas other species are declining in condition with increases in water temperature, likely as a result of food limitations with increased metabolic rates, or reaching thermal temperature maxims and having to move into less productive areas in search of suitable thermal habitat. These species may be more susceptible to climate change. Preliminary change point analyses show that the decline in relative condition in the 2000s that is seen across many species aligns with a period dominated by large bodied copepods. Perretti et al. [12] found similar periods of copepod size structure changes, and found that periods dominated by large bodied copepods were associated with low recruitment in groundfish. Relative fish condition is likely the mechanism for these linkages, where poor body condition leads to low fish recruitment.

5 Indicator documentation

5.1 Are indicators available for others to use (data downloadable)?

## Yes

5.1.1 Where can indicators be found?

## Data: https://noaa-edab.github.io/ecodata/index.html 
## Description:  https://noaa-edab.github.io/catalog/condition.html 
## Technical documentation:  https://noaa-edab.github.io/tech-doc/condition.html

5.1.2 How often are they updated? Are future updates likely?

[need sequential look at datasets for update frequency. Future requires judgement]

5.1.3 Who is the contact?

5.2 Gather indicator statistics

5.2.1 Units

## MeanCond

5.2.2 Length of time series, start and end date, periodicity

General overview: The temporal scale for relative condition was the fall NEFSC bottom trawl survey (Sept.-Nov.).

Indicator specifics:

Indicator

EPU

StartYear

EndYear

NumYears

MissingYears

Acadian redfish

GB

1992

2024

27

6

Acadian redfish

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Acadian redfish

SS

1992

2024

31

2

American plaice

GB

1992

2024

28

5

American plaice

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

American plaice

SS

1992

2024

30

3

Atlantic cod

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Atlantic cod

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Atlantic cod

SS

1992

2023

28

4

Atlantic croaker

MAB

1992

2024

28

5

Atlantic croaker

1996

2024

24

5

Atlantic halibut

SS

1999

2024

20

6

Atlantic herring

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Atlantic herring

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Atlantic herring

SS

1992

2024

31

2

Atlantic mackerel

GB

1992

2024

31

2

Atlantic mackerel

GOM

1992

2024

31

2

Atlantic mackerel

MAB

1992

2024

25

8

Atlantic mackerel

SS

1992

2024

26

7

Atlantic menhaden

GOM

1998

2024

24

3

Atlantic wolffish

GOM

1992

2022

21

10

Barndoor skate

GB

1995

2024

26

4

Barndoor skate

GOM

2003

2024

20

2

Barndoor skate

MAB

1999

2024

21

5

Black sea bass

GB

1994

2024

20

11

Black sea bass

GOM

1998

2024

22

5

Black sea bass

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Blackbelly rosefish

GB

2001

2024

21

3

Blackbelly rosefish

GOM

1999

2024

24

2

Blackbelly rosefish

MAB

1998

2024

24

3

Bluefish

GB

1992

2024

28

5

Bluefish

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Bluntnose stingray

MAB

1996

2024

27

2

Bullnose ray

MAB

1996

2024

27

2

Butterfish

GB

1992

2024

31

2

Butterfish

GOM

1992

2024

31

2

Butterfish

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Butterfish

1992

2024

25

8

Butterfish

SS

1992

2022

22

9

Clearnose skate

MAB

1994

2024

27

4

Cownose ray

MAB

1996

2024

20

9

Cusk

GOM

1992

2024

29

4

Fourspot

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Fourspot

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Fourspot

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Goosefish

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Goosefish

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Goosefish

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Goosefish

SS

1993

2024

25

7

Haddock

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Haddock

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Haddock

MAB

1992

2024

21

12

Haddock

SS

1992

2024

31

2

Little skate

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Little skate

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Little skate

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Longhorn sculpin

GB

1992

2024

30

3

Longhorn sculpin

GOM

1992

2024

30

3

Longhorn sculpin

MAB

1992

2022

24

7

Longhorn sculpin

SS

1992

2024

27

6

Ocean pout

GB

1992

2024

31

2

Ocean pout

GOM

1992

2024

31

2

Ocean pout

MAB

1992

2024

27

6

Ocean pout

SS

1992

2024

26

7

Offshore hake

MAB

1996

2024

27

2

Pollock

GB

1992

2024

29

4

Pollock

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Pollock

SS

1992

2023

27

5

Red hake

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Red hake

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Red hake

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Red hake

SS

1992

2024

31

2

Rosette skate

MAB

1996

2024

25

4

Roughtail stingray

MAB

1997

2024

25

3

Scup

GB

1992

2024

30

3

Scup

GOM

1992

2024

27

6

Scup

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Scup

1993

2019

24

3

Sea raven

GB

1992

2024

31

2

Sea raven

GOM

1992

2024

31

2

Sea raven

MAB

1992

2014

20

3

Sea raven

SS

1992

2023

25

7

Silver hake

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Silver hake

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Silver hake

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Silver hake

SS

1992

2024

31

2

Smooth dogfish

GB

2001

2024

21

3

Smooth dogfish

MAB

2001

2024

22

2

Smooth skate

GOM

1995

2024

27

3

Smooth skate

SS

1996

2024

24

5

Spiny butterfly ray

MAB

1996

2024

26

3

Spiny dogfish

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Spiny dogfish

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Spiny dogfish

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Spiny dogfish

SS

1992

2024

30

3

Spot

MAB

1992

2024

25

8

Spotted hake

GB

1992

2024

31

2

Spotted hake

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Spotted hake

1992

2024

22

11

Summer flounder

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Summer flounder

GOM

1992

2024

23

10

Summer flounder

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Thorny skate

GB

1992

2024

31

2

Thorny skate

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Thorny skate

SS

1992

2023

27

5

Weakfish

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

White hake

GB

1992

2024

30

3

White hake

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

White hake

SS

1992

2024

31

2

Windowpane

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Windowpane

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Windowpane

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Winter flounder

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Winter flounder

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Winter flounder

MAB

1992

2024

31

2

Winter flounder

SS

1992

2024

31

2

Winter skate

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Winter skate

GOM

1992

2024

31

2

Winter skate

MAB

1992

2024

30

3

Witch flounder

GB

1996

2024

21

8

Witch flounder

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Witch flounder

MAB

1992

2019

20

8

Witch flounder

SS

1992

2024

31

2

Yellowtail flounder

GB

1992

2024

32

1

Yellowtail flounder

GOM

1992

2024

32

1

Yellowtail flounder

MAB

1992

2024

28

5

5.2.3 Spatial location, scale and extent

General overview: The spatial scale for relative condition was on the EPU level.

Indicator specifics:

Indicator

EPU

Acadian redfish

GB

Acadian redfish

GOM

Acadian redfish

SS

American plaice

GB

American plaice

GOM

American plaice

SS

Atlantic cod

GB

Atlantic cod

GOM

Atlantic cod

SS

Atlantic croaker

MAB

Atlantic croaker

Atlantic halibut

SS

Atlantic herring

GB

Atlantic herring

GOM

Atlantic herring

SS

Atlantic mackerel

GB

Atlantic mackerel

GOM

Atlantic mackerel

MAB

Atlantic mackerel

SS

Atlantic menhaden

GOM

Atlantic wolffish

GOM

Barndoor skate

GB

Barndoor skate

GOM

Barndoor skate

MAB

Black sea bass

GB

Black sea bass

GOM

Black sea bass

MAB

Blackbelly rosefish

GB

Blackbelly rosefish

GOM

Blackbelly rosefish

MAB

Bluefish

GB

Bluefish

MAB

Bluntnose stingray

MAB

Bullnose ray

MAB

Butterfish

GB

Butterfish

GOM

Butterfish

MAB

Butterfish

Butterfish

SS

Clearnose skate

MAB

Cownose ray

MAB

Cusk

GOM

Fourspot

GB

Fourspot

GOM

Fourspot

MAB

Goosefish

GB

Goosefish

GOM

Goosefish

MAB

Goosefish

SS

Haddock

GB

Haddock

GOM

Haddock

MAB

Haddock

SS

Little skate

GB

Little skate

GOM

Little skate

MAB

Longhorn sculpin

GB

Longhorn sculpin

GOM

Longhorn sculpin

MAB

Longhorn sculpin

SS

Ocean pout

GB

Ocean pout

GOM

Ocean pout

MAB

Ocean pout

SS

Offshore hake

MAB

Pollock

GB

Pollock

GOM

Pollock

SS

Red hake

GB

Red hake

GOM

Red hake

MAB

Red hake

SS

Rosette skate

MAB

Roughtail stingray

MAB

Scup

GB

Scup

GOM

Scup

MAB

Scup

Sea raven

GB

Sea raven

GOM

Sea raven

MAB

Sea raven

SS

Silver hake

GB

Silver hake

GOM

Silver hake

MAB

Silver hake

SS

Smooth dogfish

GB

Smooth dogfish

MAB

Smooth skate

GOM

Smooth skate

SS

Spiny butterfly ray

MAB

Spiny dogfish

GB

Spiny dogfish

GOM

Spiny dogfish

MAB

Spiny dogfish

SS

Spot

MAB

Spotted hake

GB

Spotted hake

MAB

Spotted hake

Summer flounder

GB

Summer flounder

GOM

Summer flounder

MAB

Thorny skate

GB

Thorny skate

GOM

Thorny skate

SS

Weakfish

MAB

White hake

GB

White hake

GOM

White hake

SS

Windowpane

GB

Windowpane

GOM

Windowpane

MAB

Winter flounder

GB

Winter flounder

GOM

Winter flounder

MAB

Winter flounder

SS

Winter skate

GB

Winter skate

GOM

Winter skate

MAB

Witch flounder

GB

Witch flounder

GOM

Witch flounder

MAB

Witch flounder

SS

Yellowtail flounder

GB

Yellowtail flounder

GOM

Yellowtail flounder

MAB

5.2.4 Management scale: all species, FMP level, species level, can it be aggregated or separated to different scales?

[Classify by hand, note gridded data if available could be applied to different species ranges]

5.2.5 Uncertainty metrics

5.3 Are methods clearly documented to obtain source data and calculate indicators?

## Yes

5.3.1 Can the indicator be calculated from current documentation?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for current and previous methods]

5.3.2 Is code publicly available? up to date?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for current and previous methods]

5.3.3 Have methods changed over time?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for current and previous methods]

5.4 Are indicator underlying source data linked or easy to find?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for source, may require judgements]

5.4.1 Where are source data stored?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for source, may require judgement]

5.4.2 How/by whom are source data updated? Are future updates likely?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for source, may require judgement]

5.4.3 How often are they updated?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for source, may require judgement]

6 Indicator analysis/testing or history of use

6.1 What decision or advice processes are the indicators currently used in?

The health and well being of individual fish can be related to body shape condition indices (i.e., weight at a given length) such as relative condition index, which is the ratio of observed weight to predicted weight based on length [36]. Heavier and fatter fish at a given length have higher relative condition which is expected to improve growth, reproductive output, and survival. Le Cren’s [36] relative condition (Kn) is used in this study: Kn = W/W’ Where W’ is the relative length-specific mean weight for the population in a given region. For this work, length-weight coefficients from Wigley et al. [37] were used to calculate W’. Individual fish weights were total body weights from Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) fall bottom trawl surveys. Most finfish species included in this study are spring or summer spawners, so the fall survey was chosen to reduce variability of gonad weights in the spring survey as the fish ramp up for spawning.

6.2 What implications of the indicators are currently listed?

These changes in condition have direct implications for stock assessments, catch quotas and management, and may indirectly impact fish recruitment and mortality.

6.3 Do target, limit, or threshold values already exist for the indicator?

[Fill by hand; if not in key results or implications, likely does not exist]

6.4 Have the indicators been tested to ensure they respond proportionally to a change in the underlying process?

[Fill by hand; if not in introduction, key results, or implications, likely not tested]

6.5 Are the indicators sensitive to a small change in the process, or what is the threshold of change that is detectable?

[Fill by hand; if not in introduction, key results, or implications, likely not tested]

6.6 Is there a time lag between the process change and the indicator change? How long?

[Fill by hand; if not in introduction, key results, or implications, likely not tested]

7 Comments

[Fill below by hand once above data complete]

7.2 What additional work would be needed for the Council to use the indicator?

7.3 What issues are caused if there is a gap or delay in data underlying the indicator