Research Document 2017/049

The 2016 assessment of the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) stock in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 12, 19, 12E and 12F)

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

Abstract

The 2016 assessment of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL) snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, stock (Areas 12, 19, 12E, and 12F) is presented. Snow crab management Areas 12, 19, 12E, and 12F comprise a single biological population and the sGSL stock is considered as one unit for assessment purposes. The 2016 assessment was conducted as per the recommendations of the Snow Crab Assessment Methods Framework Science Review held in November 2011. The exploitation rate of the 2016 fishery in the sGSL was 36.9%. The 2016 post-fishery survey biomass of commercial-sized adult male crabs was estimated at 99,145 t (95% confidence intervals 87,749 to 111,600 t), an increase of 68.6% from 2015. The available biomass for the 2017 fishery, derived from the 2016 survey, is within the healthy zone of the PA Framework. The residual biomass (24,876 t) from the 2016 survey remained at the same level as 2015. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the 2016 survey biomass, available for the 2017 fishery, is composed of new recruitment (74,269 t). The recruitment to the commercial biomass from the 2016 survey increased by 112.6% compared to 2015. The predicted recruitment of commercial-sized adult male crab for the 2018 fishery was estimated at 46,200 t (31,400 to 64,230 t). A risk analysis of catch options for the 2017 fishery is provided.

Complete document (PDF, 3,340 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.