Terms of Reference

Development of a Precautionary Approach Framework for Snow Crab in the NL Region

Regional Peer Review – Newfoundland and Labrador Region

June 6-7, 2018
St. John’s, NL

Chairpersons: Christina Bourne and Julia Pantin

Context

The Precautionary Approach (PA) is a general philosophy to managing threats of serious or irreversible harm where there is scientific uncertainty. The application of precaution requires increased risk avoidance where there are risks of serious harm and high uncertainty. These conditions often apply in fisheries; therefore precaution should be incorporated in fisheries management.

Canada is committed domestically and internationally to the use of PA in fishery decision-making.  Over the last few years, there have been several initiatives in Canada to define the PA in a fisheries context, to identify benchmarks that would be consistent with the approach and to apply it in fisheries management.  The fundamental principles guiding this approach have been outlined in two key documents produced by DFO: 1) the 2006 Science Advisory Report that identifies the minimal requirements for harvesting strategies to be compliant with the PA; and 2) the 2009 Decision-Making Framework Incorporating the Precautionary Approach; a policy document to guide the incorporation of PA principles in the management of Canadian fisheries.

To be compliant with the PA, fishery management plans should include harvest strategies that incorporate a science-based Limit Reference Point (as well as Upper Stock Reference and Removal Reference points). It is expected that the management decisions should respect the indicated actions in each of the stock zones (i.e., Healthy, Cautious, and Critical) in relation to these points.

Objective

The key objective of the meeting is to define limit reference points, consistent with the precautionary approach, for Newfoundland and Labrador Snow Crab, based on the best scientific information available, including that from the most recent assessment, as well as past assessments of the stock.
Specifically, the following objectives have been set:

1. Review reference point methodologies and proposed approaches for the identification of reference points for the NL Snow Crab stock;
2. Apply the chosen methodology(ies) to estimate the reference points, as per the decision-making framework developed by DFO for the application of Precaution in this fishery;
3. Review methods for projecting metrics (i.e.: CPUE and discards) associated with reference points for the NL Snow Crab stock.

Expected Publications

• Research Document
• Proceedings

Expected Participation

• DFO Science and Fisheries Management
• External subject matter experts

References

DFO 2006. A Harvest Strategy Compliant with the Precautionary Approach. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2006/023.

DFO 2009. A fishery decision-making framework incorporating the Precautionary Approach. October 2011 version. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/regs/sff-cpd/precaution-eng.htm