Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update of American Lobster in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 36 and 38

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

September 22, 2020
Virtual meeting

Chairperson: Rabindra Singh

Context

Commercial Lobster fishing in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 36 and 38 takes place in the Bay of Fundy. Landings in LFAs 36 and 38 began a long-term increase in the mid-1990s and current landings are near record highs (Cook et al. In prep.). 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 36 and 38 to the end of the 2018-2019 season was assessed in October 2019 (DFO 2020). The 2019 assessment followed the methods outlined in the January 2019 Framework (Cook et al. In prep.) which recommended standardized Catch Per Unit Effort (sCPUE) as the primary stock status indicator. Upper Stock References (USRs) and Limit Reference Points (LRPs) were derived for the primary indicator for each LFA. Secondary indicators of landings, effort, and DFO RV (Fisheries and Oceans Research Vessel) survey trends for the Bay of Fundy strata were also estimated. This regional Science Response process updates these indicators to the end of the 2019-2020 fishing season.

Objectives

The objectives of this regional Science Response process are to update the primary and secondary stock status indicators. Further stock status will be defined based on the estimate of sCPUE relative to the USRs and LRPs.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

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

References

DFO. 2020. Assessment of Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 35–38. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2020/nnn.

Cook. A.M., B. Hubley, V. Howse, C. Denton. In prep. 2019. Framework Assessment of the American Lobster (Homarus americanus) in LFA 34–38. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. Presented and reviewed in September 2019 at the Framework Assessment meeting.