Research Document 2021/012

Review of the 2019 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 2019 snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL; areas 12, 19, 12E and 12F) is presented. Total landings in the sGSL in 2019 were 31,707 t out of a revised quota of 32,215 t. The allowable quota in the notice to harvesters was 32,480 t. In Area 12, landings were 27,554 t (revised quota of 28,051 t). The mean catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) from logbooks increased in 2019 (55.5 kg per trap hauled (kg/th)) compared to 2018 (44.2 kg/th). The mean size of commercial-sized adult males was 109.6 mm of carapace width (CW) in 2019, at the same level as for 2018. The incidence of soft-shelled crab remained low at 5.2 %. In Area 19, landings reached 2,763 t (revised quota of 2,792 t). The mean CPUE remained high in 2019 at 112.7 kg/th, a decrease from 2018 (156.1 kg/th). The mean size of commercial-sized crabs remained high in 2019 (113.4 mm CW). The incidence of white crabs increased from 8.8 % in 2018 to 20.9 % in 2019. In Areas 12E and 12F, landings were 224 t (revised quota of 217 t) and 1,166 t (revised quota of 1,155 t), respectively. In Area 12E, the mean CPUE increased in 2019 (65.7 kg/th) compared to 2018 (46.6 kg/th). The incidence of soft-shelled crab remained low at 3.1 % in 2019. In Area 12F, the mean CPUE remained high in 2019 at 64.5 kg/th, a decrease compared to 2018 (69.1 kg/th). The incidence of soft-shelled crabs remained low at 2.1 % in 2019.

Research Document 2021/012 (PDF, 5,556 KB)

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