Research Document - 2001/015

The 2000 assessment of snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, stock in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 12-25/26, E and F)

By Hébert, M., E. Wade, T. Surette and M. Moriyasu.

Abstract

The 2000 assessment of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, stock (Areas 12, E and F) was done based on data from the commercial fishery (fishermen's logbooks, at-sea observer's measurements, purchase slips from processing plants and quota monitoring reports) and trawl survey. The 2000 landings in Area 12 were 15,046 t (quota of 15,500 t) with an average catch per unit of effort (CPUE) of 34.5 kg/trap haul and a total fishing effort of 436,782 trap hauls. The 2000 fishing season was closed before the quota was reached because of high incidence of soft-shelled crab in catches. CPUE decreased by 27 % and the percentage of soft-shelled crab increased to 12.5 % from 4.9 % in 1999. The 2000 landings for exploratory Areas E and F were 150 and 291 t, respectively. The CPUE was 22.9 kg/trap haul in Area E and 56.7 kg/trap haul in Area F. Fishing effort was estimated at 6,528 trap hauls in Area E and 5,136 trap hauls in Area F. The 2000 trawl survey indicated an unforeseen decrease in exploitable biomass (B) in Area 12 to 25,843 t. The recruitment to the fishery (22,920 t ± 4,355 t) represents 89 % of the exploitable biomass for the 2001 fishing season. The biomass estimates for 2000 and 2001 seasons cannot be comparable with the estimates prior to 1999 if the catch efficiency with the new survey vessel is different than the former vessel. Until the catch efficiency of both vessels is properly assessed, the new biomass estimates have to be interpreted with cautions.

The high abundance of pre-recruits (R-3 and R-2) observed in the 2000 trawl survey could increase the level of recruitment to the fishery for the next 3 or 4 years. An increase of the recruitment to the fishery is now expected. The exploitation rate should not exceed 50 % of the exploitable biomass (25,843 t) considering the uncertainties in the biomass estimates and the high incidence of soft-shelled crabs expected in 2001. In-season monitoring is necessary to protect the future recruitment to the fishery.

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