Terms of Reference

Regional Advisory Meeting

Assessment of 4T Rock Crab

March 11, 2008

Moncton, NB

Chairperson: Gérald Chaput

Context

Exploitation of rock crab started in the early 1960’s, initially as a by-catch of the lobster fishery. In 1974, an exploratory directed fishery was initiated but with limited activities; expanded markets and increasing value of the resource resulted in an important growth in fishing effort in the late 1980’s. Two types of fisheries for rock crab currently occur in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence: the directed fishery (with an exploratory portion) and the by-catch fishery (which include the bait fishery). The directed fishery has defined management measures including a minimum legal size, prohibition to land female crabs, gear restrictions, fishing season, individual quotas (specific areas only), and catch monitoring (mandatory dockside monitoring program and daily logbook). On the other hand, the by-catch fishery in the lobster fishery is only restricted to harvesting male rock crab.

At this time, there is no fishery-independent abundance index for the species. Rock crab has an important role in the southern Gulf ecosystem.

Gulf Region Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Branch has asked for a science review of the present rock crab fishery, status of the resource and whether the present fisheries are sustainable. The last assessment for this resource dates to 2000.

Objectives

Assess the overall status of rock crab stocks in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence since 2000 as well as their response to the actual fishing pressure based on the following indicators:

• Inter-annual fluctuations in landings from the directed fishery;

• Seasonal and annual fluctuations in CPUE;

• Fishing effort distribution;

• Number of fishers reaching their maximal individual catch allocation;

• Inter-annual fluctuations in landings of rock crab as a by-catch during the lobster fishery.

Outputs

• CSAS Science Advisory Report – by March 28, 2008

• CSAS Proceedings

• CSAS Research document

Participation

• Meeting chair: Gérald Chaput, DFO

• DFO Science assessment contact: Amélie Rondeau

• DFO Science

• DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management

• Aboriginal communities

• Invited participants from fishing sector who could contribute to the review process