Science Advisory Report  2014/035

Assessment of the Estuary and Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 13 to 17, 12A, 12B, 12C and 16A) Snow Crab Stocks in 2013

Summary

• In 2013, 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 high commercial biomass. Recruitment and abundance of adolescent crabs ≥ 78 mm near or above the average suggest that this biomass will be maintained in the short term. Conversely, the Estuary stock (Area 17) was characterized by a declining commercial biomass. The only biomass index for the stock on the north shore of the Gaspé Peninsula (Area 12A), that is, the catch rate during the 2013 fishery, suggests that the resource is abundant in this area.
• The purpose of conservation is to maintain an adequate male reproductive biomass in order to ensure the recovery or maintenance of the population in a given area. Recommendations assume that the natural mortality rate will be the same in 2014 as in previous years.

• In Area 17, a 20% decrease in catches compared to those in 2013 is recommended to avoid creating an excessively high harvesting intensity and to reduce the potential impact of the fishery on white crab.
• In Area 16, for 2014, an increase in catches of 15% to 20% over those in 2013 would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 15, for 2014, catches comparable to those of 2013 would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 14, a maximum 35% increase in catches in 2014 over those in 2013 would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 13, a maximum 25% increase in catches in 2014 over the total authorized in 2013 would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 12A, based on the commercial catch rate, a maximum 10% increase in catches in 2014 over those in 2013 would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 12B, for 2014, a 20% to 25% increase in catches over those in 2013 would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 12C, for 2014, catches equal to or 10% lower than those in 2013 would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.
• In Area 16A, for 2014, catches comparable to those in 2013 would not result in an excessively high harvesting intensity.

This Science Advisory Report is from the February 17 and 18, 2014 meeting on the Assessment of the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence Snow Crab stocks. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

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