Research Document - 2007/041

Stock status and indicators for the Bay of Fundy lobster fishery, Lobster Fishing Areas 35, 36 & 38

By Robichaud, D., and D. Pezzack

Abstract

In the Bay of Fundy (BOF), lobster (Homarus americanus) is a valued resource shared principally by lobster fishers from three lobster management units referred to as Lobster Fishing Areas or LFAs. The Bay of Fundy lobster fisheries (LFA’s 35, 36 & 38) are managed by input controls including a common minimum size limit of 82.5 mm carapace length (CL), prohibition on landing V-notch or berried females, limited entry, seasons and trap limits (Table 1). In the three LFA’s of the BOF, there are a total of 403 Category A and 7 Category B licenses. The number of participants, and trap limits vary among LFA’s. In the present assessment it is the first time indicators have been used to assess the BOF lobster fishery. Abundance indicators for legal size lobster which includes landings and catch rate from at-sea sampling data are primarily positive. Landings in the BOF as a whole continue to be above long-term average and have stabilized at a historical high plateau during the last five seasons. Landings in 2005-06 peaked at an historical high of 3997 t. Landings in each LFA, generally followed the pattern of the BOF as a whole. Fall catch rates, based on sea sampling were generally high, except for the upper BOF, compared to the 1997-2001 period. Fishing pressure indicators based on the 2003-06 sea sampling data and the 2004-05 landings indicates the stock is still fished at moderate levels with estimates for exploitation based on Length Cohort Analysis on the order of between 52 to 58%. No comparison with previous assessment could be made with catch rates (CPUE), due to the fact that the recent grid based logbooks were only introduced during fall 2003. Production indicators showed either no changes or were positive in relation to reference periods. Since 1992, pre-recruit abundance (one-year prior to the fishery) based on fall at-sea sampling for the Bay of Fundy has been high. During the last five years, pre-recruit abundance has been relatively stable as a whole with some decreases at two index ports (Alma and Dipper Harbour and increases at two other index port Seal Cove and Victoria beach). Based on at-sea sampling and dive surveys berried females were in general more abundant from the late 1990s to the present, in comparison to the 1980s and early 1990s. Lobster settlement index (since 1991) based on fall diving surveys off Beaver Harbour (LFA 36), showed an historical high settlement densities pulse of recruitment in 2005 and 2006. These historically high settlement densities were also evident along the north eastern coast of Maine.

Complete document (PDF, 4121 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.