Research Document - 2014/011
An Assessment of Newfoundland and Labrador Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in 2012
By D. Mullowney, E. Dawe, W. Coffey, K. Skanes, E. Hynick, D. Fiander, S. Quilty, D. Stansbury, E. Colbourne, and D. Maddock Parsons
Abstract
Resource status was evaluated throughout the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions (Div.) 2HJ3KLNOP4R based on trends in biomass, recruitment, production, and mortality. Multiple indices of these metrics were derived from a suite of data sources that include dockside-monitored landings, harvester logbooks, at-sea observer monitoring, pre- and post-season trawl surveys, broad-scale post-season trap surveys, localized inshore trap surveys, a vessel monitoring system (VMS), and biological and oceanographic sampling data from multiple sources. The resource was assessed separately for offshore and inshore areas of each NAFO Division, where appropriate (Div. 3KLP4R). Data availability varied among divisions and between inshore and offshore areas within divisions. The multi-species trawl surveys indicate that the exploitable biomass declined from 2008 to 2011 and was unchanged in 2012. The trawl surveys indicate that recruitment has recently declined and is expected to decline further in the short term (2-3 years). Long-term recruitment prospects are unfavourable due to a recent warm oceanographic regime. Trends in indices are described in detail for each division and conclusions are presented with respect to the anticipated effects of short-term changes in removal levels on fishery induced mortality.
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