DRAFT Terms of Reference

Science Advisory Process on Framework and Assessment for Offshore Lobster and Jonah Crab in LFA 41

10-11 February 2009

George Needler II Boardroom, BIO

Dartmouth, NS

Background

Lobster

Lobsters (Homarus americanus) are found in coastal waters from southern Labrador to Maryland, with the major fisheries concentrated around the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Gulf of Maine. Though lobster are most common in coastal waters, they are also found in deeper, warm water areas of the Gulf of Maine and along the outer edge of the continental shelf from Sable Island to off North Carolina. The status of the LFA 41 offshore lobster resources in the Maritimes was last assessed in 2000. The Scotia-Fundy Region’s Lobster Conservation Strategy (2004-2008) requires that within each LFA, indicators be developed that are supported by a broad representation of stakeholders. Indicators for lobster in LFA 41 are required to remain consistent with the overall Lobster Conservation Strategy.

Jonah Crab

Jonah crab (Cancer borealis) is found from Nova Scotia to South Carolina and in the Bermudas at depths ranging from intertidal to 800m. In the waters of Nova Scotia, Jonah crabs are found primarily at depths of 50-300m. Since the mid 1960s, Jonah crab have been landed as by-catch of the inshore and offshore lobster fisheries. In 1995, a Jonah crab exploratory fishery, as a by-catch to the offshore lobster fishery, was approved. The status of Jonah crab in LFA 41 was last assessed in 2000.

Context

In April 2008, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management asked DFO Maritimes Science to conduct an assessment of the status of both offshore lobster and Jonah crab stocks in LFA 41, as well as to recommend indicators to monitor the future health of these stocks. Given that both these resources were last assessed in 2000, it was decided that a review of the assessment framework would also be appropriate at this time.

Meeting Objectives

Stock Structure / Management Unit

• For both lobster and Jonah crab in LFA 41, provide a brief overview of what is known about stock structure, including available information on genetics, larval drift and movement. 

Estimation of Current Status of the Resource

• For both the LFA 41 lobster and Jonah crab resources, develop appropriate indicators for:
• • Abundance - based upon, industry logbooks, fisheries landings/catch rate and DFO/NMFS trawl surveys
  • Fishing pressure - based upon sea sampling, industry logbooks, fisheries landings/catch rate, and effort trends
  • Production - based on size structure and sex ratios from at-sea sampling  
  • Ecosystem - based upon available water temperature and other oceanographic information
• Provide guidelines on the interpretation of levels and trends of these indicators
• Apply this suite of indicators and guidelines to the current information to evaluate the status of the lobster and Jonah crab resources in LFA 41.

Estimation of Fishery Impacts on the Ecosystem

• To the degree possible, report on other by-catch species in the LFA 41 lobster fishery.
• Describe the potential impact of lobster fishing on the habitat of LFA 41.

Management Issues

• Describe how management options for the lobster and Jonah crab fisheries in LFA 41 can be used to address regional conservation strategies related to productivity, biodiversity and habitat.
• Provide recommendations on the schedule for ongoing assessment of LFA 41 lobster and Jonah crab.
• Discuss guidelines for the monitoring of indicators and other events (e.g., decision-rules) that could trigger an earlier than scheduled assessment.

Output

CSAS Science Advisory Report,
CSAS Research Documents
CSAS Proceedings

Participants

DFO Science
DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
DFO Oceans, Habitat and Species at Risk Branch
Provincial representatives 
External reviewers
First Nations
Industry, including lobster advisory committee members