Research Document 2019/072

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

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

Abstract

The 2018 assessment of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL) snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, stock (Areas 12, 19, 12E and 12F) is presented. Snow crab in the sGSL is considered as a single biological unit for assessment purposes. The 2018 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 2018 fishery in the sGSL was 36.9%. The 2018 post-fishery survey biomass of commercial-sized adult male crabs was estimated at 80,746 t (95% confidence intervals 70,984 to 91,467 t), an increase of 22.8% from 2017. The available biomass for the 2019 fishery, derived from the 2018 survey, is within the healthy zone of the PA Framework. The residual biomass from the 2018 survey was estimated at 21,432 t, an increase of 46.3% compared to the 2017 estimate. Seventy-four percent (74%) of the 2018 survey biomass, available for the 2019 fishery, is composed of new recruitment (59,609 t). The recruitment to the commercial biomass from the 2018 survey increased by 16.6% compared to 2017. The predicted recruitment of commercial-sized adult male crab for the 2020 fishery was estimated at 49,820 t (33,790 to 70,970 t). Risk analysis of catch options for the 2019 fishery is provided.