Terms of Reference

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

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

February 14, 2018
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

American Lobster (Homarus americanus) is found in coastal waters from Maryland to southern Labrador, with the major fisheries concentrated around Gulf of Maine and the Gulf of St. Lawrence areas. Though lobster is most common in coastal waters, they are also found in deeper, warm water areas of the Gulf of Maine and along the outer edge of the continental shelf from North Carolina to Sable Island.

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 update for the LFAs 27-33 fishery was completed in February 2017 (DFO 2017) and a stock framework was conducted in January 2018. A full stock assessment review, using the new stock indicators and reference points for this fishery is planned for 2018. This regional science response process updates previously identified indicators (DFO 2011; Tremblay et al. 2011) to the end of the 2017 fishing season.

Objective

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 Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

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

DFO. 2017. Lobster (Homarus americanus) off the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia (Lobster Fishing Areas 27-33): 2017 Stock Status Update. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2017/026.

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., Pezzack, D.S., Denton, C., Cassista-Da Ros, M., Smith, S.J., Reeves, A.R, Silva, A., Armsworthy, S. 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.