Terms of Reference

Evaluation of soft shell data for legal-sized male Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) in Crab Management Areas E, G, and H in British Columbia, 2009-2013

Regional Peer Review Process – Pacific Region

April 21-22, 2015
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Janet Lochead

Context

Commercial fishing for Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) occurs throughout British Columbia’s (BC’s) coastal waters. The fishery is managed under a precautionary regime that includes a minimum harvestable size limit, sex restriction, limited commercial licensing, area licensing, trap limits, soak limits, and gear restrictions. Additionally, in some areas of the coast, fishing closures or trap haul restrictions have been implemented.to protect male crabs from handling injury and mortality during the vulnerable soft shell stage following moulting.

Three of seven Crab Management Areas (CMAs) in BC (Areas I and J, Fraser River area; and Area A, Hecate Strait/McIntyre Bay) have seasonal closures to protect large male crabs while in soft shell condition. Seasonal closures are set in the Crab-By-Trap Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP), although in CMA A there is a soft shell sampling program paid for by Industry. Information from this program is used by fisheries managers and Industry to better understand variability in soft shell timing and to potentially adjust fishing season opening and closing times.

Four CMAs in BC (B, E, G, H) are currently not managed using seasonal soft shell closures as the timing in these areas is largely unknown. In 2009, the Industry-sponsored Dungeness Crab biological sampling program was expanded in CMAs E, G, and H to collect fishery-independent and dependent crab biological data monthly to identify soft shell timing of legal-sized crabs. Data were collected in CMAs E, G and H from 2009 to 2013 (5 years). No such expanded sampling program was implemented in CMA B. After consultations with DFO, Industry, and Service Providers, the crab biological sampling program was improved to incorporate a long-term vision of departmental data requirements other than soft shell timing and to reduce costs to Industry. The modified sampling program, which still requires both fishery-independent and dependent sampling, was implemented in 2013 in Area B and 2014 in Areas E, G, and H and may remain a condition of license for years to come.

DFO Fisheries Management Branch has requested that Science Branch provide an analysis of crab biological data collected in 2009 - 2013 from the expanded sampling program to evaluate the timing and magnitude of soft shell occurrence in legal male crabs in CMAs E, G, and H. The assessment and advice arising from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Peer Review (RPR) will be used to inform the management of commercial crab fisheries.

Objectives

The following working paper will be reviewed and provide the basis for discussion and advice on the specific objectives outlined below.

Waddell, B, J.S. Dunham, Z. Zhang and I. Perry. 2015. Evaluation of soft shell data for legal-sized male Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) in Crab Management Areas E, G and H in British Columbia, 2009-2013. CSAP Working Paper 2014INV001.

1. Provide estimates of proportions and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of soft shell legal males from commercial vessel and standardized fishery-independent sampling programs in CMA’s E, G, and H from 2009 to 2013.
2. Fit statistical models to the sample data to determine population estimates of proportion and relative abundance of soft legal male crabs, including estimates of uncertainty.
3. In the form of decision tables, provide population estimates and timing of peak soft shell proportion and relative abundance.
4. Discuss sources of uncertainty of this assessment, including the sampling program and data limitations.

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Advisory Report
• CSAS Research Document
• CSAS Proceedings

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) MEAD, FAM
• First Nations with traditional territories in Areas E, G, H
• Industry commercial crab fishery area reps (in particular Areas E, G, H)
• Service Providers (Pacific Coast Fisheries Services (PCFS) and Ecotrust) responsible for collecting crab biological data
• Conservation and Protection Branch
• Sport Fish Advisory Board (SFAB)
• Marine Fisheries Management, Province of BC
• UBC Fisheries Center