Terms of Reference

Review of Framework and Assessment for LFA 34-38 Lobster Stocks

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

Part 1 – Framework Review: July 10-12, 2012 (Digby, NS)
Part 2 – Assessment: February 12-14, 2013 (Dartmouth, NS)

Chairperson: Tana Worcester

Context

The landed value of the lobster fishery in Atlantic Canada ($396 million in 2010) is the highest of any fishery in Canada. Landings in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 34-38 (Gulf of Maine and the Bay of Fundy) comprise a significant portion of the Atlantic Canada total (44% in 2010).  Landings in LFAs 34-38 are currently near all-time highs.

The status of the lobster resources in LFA 34 was last assessed in 2006; LFAs 35-38 were last assessed in 2007. DFO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Management has requested updated information on the status of the LFA 34-38 lobster stocks.

This assessment updates the indicators recommended in the 2006 and 2007 assessments, and builds on what was learned in recent assessments of LFA 41 and LFAs 27-33. In addition, some new fishery-independent indicators will be evaluated.

Current reference points for all of LFAs 27-38 are based on using landings as a proxy for abundance.  Some alternatives to landings-based reference points will be evaluated.

Objectives

Part 1 – Framework Review

• Describe basis of the management units in context of stock structure.
  
  
• Identify strengths and weaknesses of fishery and survey data inputs for providing indicators of abundance, size structure, recruitment, effort, and spatial distribution of catch using:
  • Port and at sea sampling protocols
  • Observer sampling
  • Logbooks
  • Fishermen and Scientists Research Society (FSRS) information
  • Trawl survey data
  • Out of season trap surveys
  • Data on young-of-the-year (settlement)
    
    
• Present preliminary analyses of indicators of the following characteristics to assess whether changes have occurred in the last decade:
  • Fishery performance (landings, unstandardized CPUE, effort)
  • Abundance (legal sizes) (CPUE; available fishery independent)
  • Abundance of prerecruits and settlers (CPUE; available fishery independent)
  • Reproduction (spawners, egg production proxies)
  • Fishing Pressure (effort quantity and spatial distribution, exploitation estimates from change-in-ratio; size-based)
    
    
• Review relevant biological and ecological information:
  • Life history, molting, recruitment, etc.
  • Present preliminary results of size at maturity studies: LFA 34, LFA 38
  • Incidental catch; fishery footprint 
  • Environmental data, e.g., temperature 
    
    
• Present rationale for current landings-based reference points; present potential alternative.
  
  
• Develop assessment schedule, including guidelines for the monitoring of the indicators and other events that would trigger earlier than scheduled assessment.

Part 2 – Assessment

• Address key issues identified during Part 1.
  
  
• Assess the stock status of the LFA 34-38 lobster stocks as of the end of the 2011-2012 seasons:
  • Report indicator trends.
  • Estimate relative exploitation rates over the last 10 years and evaluate the consequences of maintaining the current harvest levels.
  • Evaluate stocks status in relation to landings-based reference points and any new reference points identified in Part 1.
    
    
• Estimate the level of incidental catch (including lobster) and the retention of non-lobster species, and report on information available on the survival of discarded species.
  
  
• Provide implications for fishery management of the current estimates of the 50% size at onset of maturity for females, and other indicators of stock reproduction.

Expected Publications

• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)
• Science Advisory Report

Participation

• DFO Science and Resource Management
• Provincial representatives
• Fishing Industry
• Aboriginal communities/organizations
• Other invited experts

References

DFO, 2006. Framework Assessment for Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34. DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2006/024.

DFO, 2007. Framework and Assessment Indicators for Lobster (Homarus americanus) in the Bay of Fundy, Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 35, 36, and 38. DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2007/037.