Research Document - 2003/016

The 2002 assessment of snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 12, E and F)

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

Abstract

The 2002 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 surveys. The 2002 landings in Area 12 were 21,869 t (quota of 22,000 t) with an average catch per unit of effort (CPUE) of 40.2 kg/trap haul and a total fishing effort of 544,454 trap hauls. Many indicators (e.g., CPUE, mean size, incidence of soft-shelled crabs, dependance on new recruitment to the fishery, low residual biomass of hard-shelled crabs) suggest that exploitation in Area 12 was too high in 2002. The 2002 landings for Areas E and F were 163 and 378 t, respectively. The CPUE was 56.6 kg/trap haul in Area E and 85.2 kg/trap haul in Area F. Fishing effort was estimated at 2,916 trap hauls in Area E and 4,437 trap hauls in Area F. The fishing performance in Areas E and F was good in 2002.

The 2002 trawl survey indicated an increase in the commercial biomass (B) index in Area 12 to 41,554 t ± 5,942 t. The index of the recruitment to the fishery (33,102 t ± 5,329 t) represents 80% of the biomass index. The high level of prerecruits (R-3 and R-2) abundance indices observed in the 2002 trawl survey could increase the level of recruitment to the fishery until 2005. The current status of the spawning stock and reproductive performance has raised concerns for potential long-term negative impacts on the stock. Because of the observed negative indicators of the stock status in Area 12 in 2002, it would be prudent for the 2003 quota to not exceed 20,000 t. An increase of the quota in Areas E and F in 2003 is suggested considering the fishing performance and the increase in the commercial biomass indices in these areas. A close in-season monitoring is necessary to protect the future recruitment to the fishery.

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