Science Advisory Report  2013/036

Assessment of the Estuary and Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 13 to 17, 12A, 12B, 12C and 16A) Snow Crab Stocks in 2012

Summary

• In 2012, stocks in the Middle and Lower North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (areas 13, 14, 15, 16, 16A and 12C) and south of Anticosti Island (Area 12B) had stable or increasing residual biomass and high recruitment to the fishery. This abundance of recruits is explained by a recruitment wave in this part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Conversely, stocks further south (areas 12A and 17) are characterized by low recruitment and a moderate to high, but declining, residual biomass.
• The purpose of conservation is to maintain an adequate male reproductive biomass in order not to adversely affect the recovery or maintenance of the population in a given area. Recommendations assume that the natural mortality rate will be the same in 2012 as in previous years.

Recommendations

• In areas 17 and 12A, maintaining the 2012 TAC at 1 809 t and 162 t, respectively, for 2013 is recommended to avoid creating an excessively high harvesting intensity and to protect against possible white crab issues.
• In Area 16, for 2013, a maximum 25% increase in catches (4 608 t) over the 2012 TAC would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 12B, a 15 to 20% increase of the 2012 TAC in 2013 (from 374 to 390 t) would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 15, for 2013, a maximum 10% increase in catches (653 t) over the 2012 TAC would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 14, for 2013, a maximum 10% increase in catches (448 t) over the 2012 TAC would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 12C, for 2013, a maximum 10% increase in catches (352 t) over the 2012 TAC would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 16A, for 2013, a maximum 10% increase in catches (469 t) over the 2012 TACwould not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 13, an increase in 2013 catches to a value not exceeding 188 t would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.

This Science Advisory Report is from the February 19–20, 2013 meeting on the Assessment of the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence Snow Crab stocks. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted as they become available on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Advisory Schedule.

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