Terms of Reference

Options for Reference Points for the Lobster Stock of the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Gulf Region Science Response Process

November 21, 2013
Moncton, N.B.

Chairperson:  Gérald Chaput (DFO Gulf Region)

Context

The lobster fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence is managed by effort controls rather than on catches for the total fishery or for individual harvesters. During the most recent assessment of the lobster stocks of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2012 (DFO 2013c), it was indicated that the review and application of reference points to this stock required further analyses and review. Reference points have been defined for the lobster stocks of LFA 34 and LFA 35-38 of the Maritimes Region and LFA 22 in Quebec (DFO 2012; DFO 2013 a,b). For these LFAs, average landings from 1985 to 2009 were used as an approximation of B_MSY. For the Quebec LFA, the 25 years corresponded to a productive period for lobster during which at least two generations of them were produced in large numbers. The limit reference point for biomass was defined as 40% of the average and it corresponded to the landings observed in the early 1970s, which were among the lowest recorded in 60 years. At that time, the stock was considered overexploited (DFO 2012). For the Maritime LFAs, the metric for assessing where the stock is relative to the reference points is the 3-year running average of landings (DFO 2013 a,b).

Following on the experience in other DFO Regions, DFO Science Gulf Region will review options for reference points for the lobster fishery of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Objectives

The objectives of the peer review meeting are as follows:

• Summarize the methods and data used to establish the reference points for the lobster stocks in Quebec and Maritimes regions.
• Using a similar approach, propose reference points for the lobster biological unit of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
• Review and identify the information requirements to evaluate options for reference points and to assess the status of the resource relative to these reference points.

Expected Publications

• Science Response
• Research Ddocument (if appropriate)

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science Branch, Resource Management) from Gulf, Maritimes, Quebec regions
• Invited experts from industry and aboriginal organisations
• Invited external experts

References

DFO. 2012. Assessment of Lobster Stocks of the Magdalen Islands (LFA 22), Quebec in 2011. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/012.

DFO. 2013a. Assessment of Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFA) 35-38. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/023.

DFO. 2013b. Assessment of Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/024.

DFO. 2013c. American lobster, Homarus americanus, stock status in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence: LFA 23, 24, 25, 26a and 26b. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/029.