Terms of Reference

Update of the indicators of the rock crab (Cancer irroratus) fishery of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Regional Science Response Process – Gulf Region

November 23, 2018
Moncton, New Brunswick

Chairperson: Gérald Chaput

Context

In support of a request for science advice from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, DFO Gulf Science Branch will provide an update of the rock crab (Cancer irroratus) fishery indicators of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence as presented in the most recent update to 2016 (DFO 2017). The most recent assessment for rock crab was completed in 2013 (DFO 2013; Rondeau et al. 2014). Reference points for the rock crab fishery have not been defined.

Objective

Provide an update of the rock crab fishery indicators (DFO 2017; Rondeau et al. 2014) including:

• Fishery dependent abundance indices: landings, the catch per unit effort, and the percentage of licence holders reaching their individual allocation, derived from the mandatory logbook reports and the dockside monitoring program.
• Fishery independent abundance indicators: rock crab settlement index derived from bio-collectors.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Ecosystems and Science Branch, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management Branch)

References

DFO. 2013. Assessment of the Rock Crab (Cancer irroratus) fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence for 2006 to 2011. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/030.

DFO. 2017. Update of the fishery indicators for rock crab (Cancer irroratus) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2016/053.

Rondeau, A., Hanson, J.M., and Comeau, M. 2014. Rock crab, Cancer irroratus, fishery and stock status in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence: LFA 23, 24, 25, 26A and 26B. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2014/032. vi + 52 p.