Terms of Reference

Regional Advisory Meeting

Scotia-Fundy Snow Crab Assessment

26-27 February 2008

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Chairperson: Tana Worcester

Context

The snow crab fishery on the Eastern Scotian Shelf occurs annually throughout the year, dependent upon the Crab Fishing Area (CFA). In support of the fishery, DFO Maritimes Fisheries Management requests Science for an assessment of resource status and the consequences of various harvest levels for the coming fishing season. The current meeting is a scientific review of the assessment and projections undertaken in support of the 2007 fishery.

Objectives

• Assess the status of Atlantic Nova Scotia’s CFA’s snow crab up to the end of 2006, using the following indicators:

• Abundance

- Snow crab survey biomass index of males greater than 95 mm (commercial sizes)

• Recruitment

- Snow crab survey R-1 relative abundance

• Exploitation Rate

- Incidence of CC5 crab in the survey

- Relative exploitation rate from the survey

• Report on

- Commercial catch rates in the 2006 fishery, compared to those in previous years

- Abundance of female crab from the survey

• Evaluate the consequences of different harvest levels during the 2007 fishery on stock abundance and exploitation rate

• Estimate by-catch of non-snow crab species from the past three fishing seasons

Outputs

CSAS Science Advisory Report for Atlantic Nova Scotia CFA’s CSAS

Proceedings summarizing the discussion

CSAS Research Document

Participation

DFO Science Maritimes and Gulf Regions

DFO Maritimes Fisheries and Aquaculture Management

 Provincial Government representatives

Industry External reviewers