Terms of Reference

Update of the Fishery Indicators for Rock Crab in Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (LFAs 23, 24, 25, 26A, 26B)

Regional Peer Review – Gulf Region

December 7, 2022
Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Tyler Tunney

Context

In support of a request for science advice from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fisheries and Harbour 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 2017 (DFO 2019). 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.

Objectives

Provide an update of the rock crab fishery indicators (DFO 2019; 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:
• Juvenile rock crab index derived from bio-collectors.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Ecosystems and Science Branch, Fisheries and Harbour 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. 2019. Update to 2017 of the fishery indicators for rock crab (Cancer irroratus) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2019/007.
• 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.