Research Document - 2001/156

Update on Stock Status of American Lobster, Homarus americanus, Lobster Fishing Areas 34

By D.S. Pezzack, C.F. Frail, P. Lawton, D.A. Robichaud, M.B. Strong

Abstract

Temporal trends in landings for Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34 with addition data from LFA 41 are reviewed, as are data from key fisheries sampling programs and logbooks.

During the 1980's LFA 34 landings increased steadily and peaked in 1990-91 at 11,071t. Landings were down in 1991-92 and 1992-93 at 8876 and 8916 t respectively. Landings remained between 10,314 and 11,890 between 1993-94 and 1997-98, then rose to 13,004 in 1998-99 and 12,958 in 1999-00. The 1990-2000 landings were 3.6 times the average for the 1947-80 period.

The spatial distribution of the lobster fishery was modelled for the 1998/99 and 1999/2000 fishing seasons using new logbook data based on a 10-min grid system, and expansion of landings to catch at size, using an expanded at-sea sampling program. For the 1999/2000 fishing season 84% of lobsters estimated to have been landed were in the first molt group (81-94 mm CL). Only 4% of LFA 34 landings were in the third molt group (110+).

LFA 34 exploitation rates estimated at 68%. Including data from LFA 41 gives estimates of 59-63% These values are higher than the last assessment (50-66%) but based on a more accurate picture of the landings and size frequencies.

The majority of the LFA 34 catch is immature and have never reproduced. The majority of mature females removed in the LFAs 34 / 41(4X) area are taken in the first two molt groups (81-104 mm CL) in nearshore LFA 34. The majority of these are newly mature and have not reproduced before. LFA 34 accounts for 80% of the removed potential egg production, with 50% of the total accounted for by the nearshore fishery.

The logbook data provides the number of lobsters v-notch as reported by fishermen. In the initial year, 117,727 notches were reported. Second year participation rates declined, with 41,209 notches reported.

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