Research Document 2019/070

Review of the 2018 snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 12, 19, 12E and 12F)

By Hébert, M., Surette T., Landry J.-F., and Moriyasu, M.

Abstract

The review of the 2018 snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 12, 19, 12E and 12F) is presented. Total landings in the sGSL in 2018 were 24,260 t out of a revised quota of 24,439 t. The allowable quota in the notice to harvesters was 24,614 t. In Area 12, landings were 20,769 t (revised quota of 20,909 t). The mean catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) from logbooks decreased in 2018 (44.2 kg per trap hauled (kg/th)) compared to 2017 (72.0 kg/th). The mean size of commercial-sized adult males was 109.6 mm of carapace width (CW) in 2018, at the same level as for 2017. The incidence of soft-shelled crab remained low at 4.4%. In Area 19, landings reached 2,048 t (revised quota of 2,046 t). The mean CPUE remained high in 2018 at 156.1 kg/th, an increase from 2017 (142.8 kg/th). The mean size of commercial-sized crabs remained high in 2018 (113.7 mm CW). The incidence of white crabs decreased from 11.6% in 2017 to 8.8% in 2018. In Areas 12E and 12F, landings were 260 t (revised quota of 266 t) and 1,183 t (revised quota of 1,218 t), respectively. In Area 12E, the mean CPUE decreased in 2018 (46.6 kg/th) compared to 2017 (60.9 kg/th). The incidence of soft-shelled crab remained low at 4.6% in 2018. In Area 12F, the mean CPUE remained high in 2018 at 69.1 kg/th, a slight decrease compared to 2017 (72.6 kg/th). The incidence of soft-shelled crabs remained low at 1.3% in 2018.