Science Response 2018/030

Stock Status Update of American Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 27-33

Context

The scientific basis for assessing American Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 27-33 was 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 Reference (USR) and Lower Reference Points (LRP) based on landings are provided in the Integrated Fishery Management Plan (IFMP) for LFAs 27-33. These were modified in 2012 (DFO 2012, Tremblay et al. 2012b).  New reference points were accepted for additional indicators at a recent framework meeting for LFAs 27-33 in January 2018. These indicators and reference points will be used to assess the stock in future stock assessments and interim stock status updates. This Science Response updates key biomass and abundance indicators: landings, commercial catch rates and catch rates of sublegal sizes from Fishermen Scientists Research Society (FSRS) recruitment traps to the end of the 2017 fishing season (2016-17 for LFA 33).

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of February 14, 2018, on the Stock Status Update of American Lobster in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 27-33.

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