Research Document - 2012/086

Review of the 2011 snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishery performance in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 12, 19, 12E and 12F)

By M. Hébert, E. Wade, M. Biron, P. DeGrâce, J.-F. Landry, and M. Moriyasu

Abstract

The review of the 2011 snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishery performance in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL) (Areas 12, 19, 12E and 12F) is presented. Total landings in the sGSL in 2011 were 10,708 t out of a quota of 10,677 t. The fishery performance in all fishing areas was good in 2011. In Area 12, landings were 8,618 t (quota of 8,585 t). The unadjusted mean catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) increased in 2011 (53.0 kg per trap hauled (kg/th)) compared to 2010 (47.9 kg/th). The mean size of commercial-sized adult males remained high at 114.2 mm of carapace width (CW), a slight decrease compared to 2010 (115.2 mm CW). The incidence of soft-shelled crab remained relatively low and at the same level (6.2%) as for 2010. According to the soft-shelled protocol, two predefined sectors and 12 additional grids were closed during the 2011 fishing season. In Area 19, landings reached 1,701 t (quota of 1,703 t). The mean CPUE were 133.3 kg/th, the highest observed since 1987. The mean size of commercial-sized crabs remained high (117.3 mm CW) at the same level since 2007. The incidence of white crabs increased from 6.4% in 2010 to 11.5% in 2011. In Areas 12E and 12F, landings were 76 t (quota of 75 t) and 313 t (quota of 314 t), respectively. In Area 12E, the mean CPUE slightly increased in 2011 (31.5 kg/th) compared to 2010 (27.4 kg/th) and the incidence of soft-shelled crabs was low (8.4%). In Area 12F, the mean CPUE in 2011 (32.5 kg/th) increased compared to 2010 (29.3 kg/th) and the percentage of soft-shelled crab was low at 2.6%.

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