Science Advisory Report  2008/007

Assessment of Snow Crab in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Area 19)

Summary

• Crabs in management Areas 12, E, F and 19 are part of a larger biological population and the southern Gulf has to be considered as one unit for biological and assessment purposes.
• The 2007 landings in Area 19 were 3,034 t (quota of 3,074 t).
• The annual mean CPUE in 2007 was within the range observed in the previous decade.
• The 2007 fall survey biomass index of commercial-sized crabs was 5,500 t (4,300 t – 7,000 t), which represents an increase of 29% relative to 2006.
• The recruitment to the fishery was estimated at 4,000 t (3,100 t – 5,000 t), and accounted for 72% of the 2007 commercial biomass index.
• The residual biomass in 2007 was 1,500 t, has been decreasing since 2003, and represents the lowest value since 1998.
• Exploitation rate in 2007 was 67%, the highest of the time series for this fishery.
• The fishery has become largely dependent on new annual recruitment to the fishery.
• The commercial biomass index estimates based on the fall trawl survey may not reflect the fishable stock at the time of the fishery 8-10 months later. The June survey prior to the July fishery provides a more reliable biomass estimate.

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