Research Document - 2000/017

Assessment of the 1999 snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fisheries off eastern Nova Scotia (Areas 20-24).

By Biron, M., Wade, E., Moriyasu, M., DeGrâce, P., Campbell, R. and Hébert, M.

Abstract

The 1999 total landings in eastern Nova Scotia (ENS) were 60% higher than those of 1998. There was a 15% increase in the seasonal catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) and a 40% increase in total fishing effort compared to 1998. The increase in landings was the result of increase in individual boat quota of regular licenses in all Crab Fishing Areas (CFA)(25% in CFA 20, 33% in CFA 21, 32% in CFA 22 northern, 26% in CFA 22 outer, 50% in CFA 23, and 44% in CFA 24), the introduction of new allocations (for a total of 39.9t) for temporary fishermen in CFA 20, and increase in allocations for temporary fishermen in CFAs 23 (from 250 t to 400 t) and 24 (from 250 t to 575 t). The overall picture for ENS in 1999 (compared to 1998) can be summarized as follows: all CFAs have reached their quotas with a similar or higher CPUE (18% increase in CFA 21, 53% in CFA 22, and 13% in CFA 23). CPUE decreased slightly in CFA 20 (-8%) and remained similar in CFA 24. The reported fishing effort were higher in CFA 20 (92%), CFA 21 (12%), CFA 23 (41%) and CFA 24 (91%), but 15% lower in CFA 22.

The third trawl survey was carried out in ENS in 1999. In 1997 and 1998, biomass information from this survey was not considered reliable because of numerous uncertainties, such as the size-weight relationship and the discriminant function for adolescent and adult males. In addition, the rough bottom configuration found in ENS is quite different from what is found in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence where this method has been developed. In 1998, a new size-weight relationship and discriminant function were established specifically for ENS snow crab population. In 1999, the technique for biomass estimation by taking bottom configuration factor into account has been investigated, and possible problems and solutions are discussed in this document. Biomass estimates for 1997, 1998 and 1999 are also presented and discussed

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