Research Document - 2001/016
Assessment of the 2000 snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fisheries off western Cape Breton (Areas 18 and 19).
By DeGrâce, P., M. Hébert, E. Wade and M. Moriyasu
Abstract
The 2000 stock assessment of the western Cape Breton snow crab fisheries, Areas 18 and 19, was done based on the information collected from fishermen's logbooks, at-sea and port samplings, and post-season trawl surveys.
In Area 18, a quota of 408 t was allowed at the beginning of the season and thereafter a supplementary allocation of 68 t was given for a total of 476 t. The mean CPUE for the 2000 season was 32.1 kg/trap haul which represents a decrease compared to 1999 (34.5 kg/trap haul). The 2000 trawl survey results showed that the biomass of adult legal-sized males projected for 2001 was estimated at 508 t ± 563 t. This biomass should be interpreted with caution because of seasonal movement of crab in and out of the area. For 2001, it is recommended that the fishery close as soon as the catches of soft-shelled crabs exceed 20 % in order to protect the future recruitment to the fishery. In Area 19, the resource was shared between traditional and temporary fishermen according to the integrated fisheries management plan. A quota of 2,702 t was allowed to traditional fishermen and a quota of 668 t was given to temporary fishermen. The total number of trap was restricted to a maximum of 1,480 traps. At the end of the season, a white crab problem was reported by the industry. Landings of 3,225 t were recorded in 2000. The mean CPUE decreased from 103.8 kg/trap haul in 1999 to 73.0 kg/trap haul in 2000. According to the trawl survey, the projected biomass of adult legal-sized males for 2001 (6,210 t) represents an increase from the 2000 estimates (5,351 t). This biomass is mainly composed of recruitment to the fishery (4,328 t).
Since 1999, a different vessel was used to carry out the trawl survey. The biomass estimates from the 1999 and 2000 surveys may not be comparable to those from the former vessel. Until the effect of changing survey vessel on the biomass estimates is evaluated, it could be cautious to apply a conservative exploitation rate.
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