Terms of Reference

2017 Stock Status Update of American Lobster in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 35-38

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

June 26, 2017
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

Commercial lobster fishing in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 35-38 takes place in the Bay of Fundy. Landings in LFAs 35-38 began a long-term increase in the mid-1990s and current landings are at record highs (DFO 2015). This increase in landings also occurred in most of the Gulf of Maine region, as well as many other LFAs in Atlantic Canada.

The status of the lobster resource in LFAs 35-38 to the end of the 2011-2012 seasons was assessed in February 2013 (DFO 2013; Gaudette et al. 2014; Tremblay et al. 2013). The 2013 assessment identified three key indicators that capture changes in lobster abundance and proposed reference points for each indicator. The last stock status update to the end of the 2014-2015 fishing season was completed in 2016 (DFO 2017). This regional science response process updates these indicators to the end of the 2015-2016 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
• Summer Research Vessel Survey catch rate of lobster

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

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

DFO. 2017. 2016 Stock Status Update of Lobster (Homarus americanus) in the Bay of Fundy (Lobster Fishing Areas 35-38). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2017/022.

Gaudette, J., Tremblay, M.J., Silva, A.M., Denton, C., and Pezzack, D.S. 2014. Reproductive Status of the American Lobster in Southwest Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy (Lobster Fishing Areas 34-38). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2014/045. v + 30 p.

Tremblay, M.J., Pezzack, D.S., Gaudette, J., Denton, C., Cassista-Da Ros, M., and Allard, J. 2013. Assessment of Lobster (Homarus americanus) off Southwest Nova Scotia and in the Bay of Fundy (Lobster Fishing Areas 34-38). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2013/078. viii + 125 p.