Research Document - 2004/038

Effects of Recent Management Changes and Stock Status in Lobster Fishing Areas 31 and 32

By Miller, R.J., Duggan, R.E.

Abstract

The purposes of this paper are 1) to investigate changes in LFAs 31 and 32 lobster stocks resulting from recent regulation changes, 2) consider the utility of our stock monitoring metrics, and 3) review the recent stock status. Regulation changes contributed about 35% and 20% of the 2001-2003 total egg production in LFAs 32 and 31B respectively. LFA 31A size frequencies showed benefits from minimum size increase and protection of large females. More eggs were produced by small females, but less than expected from protection of large females. In-port and at-sea samples were of limited use for tracking year-to-year changes and were best suited for location specific static measurements, such as exploitation rate or portion of the catch affected by a change in size regulation. Fishermen's records of daily catches were especially useful, and volunteer records were more reliable than mandatory ones. Measuring absolute abundance of ovigerous females from fishermen-directed tag-recapture studies and relative abundance of larvae and pre-recruits from out-of-season surveys show promise for stock monitoring. Stock indicators of landings and catch per trap haul of legals and pre-recruits were higher. Median lobster size, catch rate of ovigerous females, and exploitation rate showed little or no change.

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