Science Response 2016/025

Lobster (Homarus americanus) off the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia (Lobster Fishing Areas 27-33): 2016 Stock Status Update

Context

The scientific basis for assessing Lobsters Fishing Areas (LFAs) 27-33 was last examined at a framework meeting in February 2011, followed by an assessment in July 2011 (DFO 2011, Tremblay et al. 2011, Tremblay et al. 2012a).  These processes identified three stock units: LFA 27, LFAs 28-32 and LFA 33, and tabled key indicators.  Upper stock and limit reference points based on landings were proposed in 2012 (DFO 2012, Tremblay et al. 2012b).  Reference points are not currently available for the other indicators and will be explored in the next framework. This Science Response updates key abundance indicators: landings, catch rate of commercial sizes, and catch rate of sublegal sizes from Fishermen and Scientists Research Society (FSRS) recruitment traps to the end of the 2015 fishing season for LFAs 27-32 and 2014-2015 for LFA 33.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of February 15, 2016, on the Stock Status Update of American Lobster in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 27-33.

Complete document (PDF, 822 KB)

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