Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update of American Lobster in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 27-33

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

February 15, 2017
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

Commercial lobster fishing in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 27-33 takes place from northern Cape Breton along the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia. Lobster stocks in LFAs 27-33 are assessed on a multi-year assessment schedule, with stock status updates completed in the interim years. The last stock framework and stock assessment for LFAs 27-33 were completed in 2011 (DFO 2011a; Tremblay et al. 2011; Tremblay et al. 2012). Landings-based reference points for the fishery were also put in place in 2011. Although the 2011 framework and assessment identified additional key indicators, as well as tabled additional candidate reference points for the fishery, these were not adopted at that time. The last stock update for the fishery was completed in 2016 (DFO 2016). This regional science response process updates agreed upon indicators to the end of the 2016 fishing season.

Objectives

The objectives of this regional science response process are to update the following stock status indicators and ensure that they have been accurately assessed against agreed upon reference points:

• Lobster landings
• Commercial catch rate of lobster
• Catch rate of sublegal lobsters in Fishermen and Scientists Research Society (FSRS) standard traps

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

DFO. 2011a. Assessment of Lobster off the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia (LFAs 27-33). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2011/064.

DFO. 2016. Lobster (Homarus americanus) off the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia (Lobster Fishing Areas 27-33): 2016 Stock Status Update. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2016/025.

Tremblay, J., D. Pezzack, C. Denton, A. Reeves, S. Smith, A. Silva, and J. Allard. 2011. Framework for Assessing Lobster off the Coast of Eastern Cape Breton and the Eastern and South Shores of Nova Scotia (LFAs 27-33). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2011/058.

Tremblay M.J., D.S. Pezzack, C. Denton, M. Cassista-Da Ros, S. Smith, A. Reeves, A. Silva, and S. Armsworthy. 2012. Assessment of Lobster off the Coast of Eastern Cape Breton and the Eastern and South Shores of Nova Scotia (LFAs 27-33). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/022.