Research Document 2016/088

Summary of the 2015 snow crab trawl survey activities in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

By Moriyasu, M., Wade, E., DeGrâce, P., and Hébert, M.

Abstract

The present document summarizes the details of the 2015 snow crab bottom trawl survey of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence including the details of protocols used for the 2015 trawl survey, survey activities and characteristics of individual tows during the 2015 trawl survey as well as the basic information on the catch of snow crab and other species. The primary objective of the survey is to provide the data on abundance and distribution of snow crab and other by-catch species. The results of in-depth analysis of the survey data were presented in the assessment document. The survey was conducted from July 9 to October 15 using a chartered commercial fishing vessel, the “Jean Mathieu”. A total of 355 grids were visited and 353 grids were successfully sampled. The total duration of the survey was 81 days with 50 days at sea. The total number of immature male crab captured increased from 9,736 individuals in 2014 to 11,498 in 2015, whereas mature male crab catches decreased from 4,129 to 3,755. For commercial-male crabs, the number captured decreased from 1,884 in 2014 to 1,741 in 2015. For females, the total number of immature female crabs captured increased from 3,939 in 2014 to 4,904 in 2015, and the number of mature female crabs increased from 6,700 in 2014 to 7,398 in 2015. By-catch (excluding snow crab) consisted of 82 species/groups comprised of 57 fish including skate egg capsules and 32 invertebrates including whelk capsules and two algae.

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