Science Advisory Report 2009/045

Assessment of Newfoundland and Labrador Snow Crab

Summary

• Total landings increased by 20% since 2005 to 52,800 t in 2008.
• The multi-species trawl surveys indicate that the exploitable biomass declined from the late 1990’s to 2003, but has since increased.
• Recruitment has increased overall since 2005.
• Longer-term recruitment prospects are uncertain.

Division 2H

• A commercial TAC was first established in 2008, at 100 t, and landings totaled 140 t. 
• The exploitable biomass has decreased in recent years.  The post-season trawl survey exploitable biomass index doubled between 2004 and 2006, but has since decreased by 66%.
• Recruitment has decreased since 2004 and is expected to be low over the next several years.
• Maintaining the current level of fishery removals would likely result in an increase in the exploitation rate in 2009.

Division 2J

• Landings increased by 60% from 1500 t in 2005 to 2400 t in 2008, following a decline since 2002, while effort declined by 18%.
• CPUE has increased steadily since 2004 to the long-term average.
• The exploitable biomass decreased in 2008. The post-season trawl survey exploitable biomass index increased from 2002-07, remaining below levels observed prior to 2002. This index and the post-season trap survey index both decreased in 2008.
• Post-season trawl and trap surveys indicate that recruitment will decrease in 2009 and remain relatively low in the short term.
• The exploitation rate index and the pre-recruit fishing mortality index both declined sharply from 2003-05 and have since changed little.
• Maintaining the current level of fishery removals would likely result in an increase in the exploitation rate in 2009.

Division 3K Offshore

• Landings almost doubled from 5970 t in 2005 to 11,600 t in 2008 after decreasing sharply in 2005. Effort declined by 50% from 2005-07 and increased by 12% in 2008.
• CPUE increased sharply from 2005 to a record high level in 2008.
• The exploitable biomass increased substantially in recent years and remains relatively high, as indicated by both post-season surveys.
• Recruitment remains promising for the next several years.
• The trawl survey exploitation rate index has declined slightly over the past 3 years. The pre-recruit fishing mortality index decreased sharply in 2006 and has since changed little.
• Maintaining the current level of fishery removals would not likely substantially change the exploitation rate in 2009.

Division 3K Inshore

• Landings increased by 28% from 2700 t in 2005 to 3460 t in 2008, after decreasing by 21% from 2004-05, while effort declined by 48%.
• CPUE increased sharply from 2005 to a record high level in 2008.
• The exploitable biomass increased substantially to 2006 and remains relatively high. The fall trap survey exploitable biomass index increased from 2004-06 and since changed little.
• Recruitment prospects are uncertain.
• The trap survey-based exploitation rate index changed little since 2005. Data are insufficient to estimate pre-recruit mortality rates.
• Maintaining the current level of fishery removals would not likely substantially change the exploitation rate in 2009.

Division 3L Offshore

• Landings have averaged about 20,000 t since 2000, while effort has increased steadily to its highest level in 2008. 
• CPUE has declined steadily from 2000-08, to the lowest level since 1991.
• Trends in the exploitable biomass are uncertain but levels remain low. The exploitable biomass index declined sharply in both post-season surveys in 2006. It has since remained low in the trap survey but has increased in the trawl survey over the past two years.
• Both post-season surveys indicate that recruitment has been increasing and is expected to increase further over the next two to three years.
• The exploitation rate index remained at a high level in 2008 while the pre-recruit fishing mortality rate index decreased to about the long-term average.
• The ratio of pre-recruits to exploitable crab is expected to increase to a high level due to the low biomass and increasing recruitment. This could pose a risk of high fishery-induced mortality to soft-shelled immediate pre-recruits in 2009.

Division 3L Inshore

• Landings increased by 12% from 6100 t in 2005 to 6825 t in 2008, while effort decreased by 23%.
• CPUE increased by 53% from 2004 to 2008.
• The post-season trap survey exploitable biomass index indicates the exploitable biomass increased from 2004-06 and changed little since.
• Recruitment prospects are uncertain.
• The trap survey-based exploitation rate index changed little since 2005. Data are insufficient to estimate pre-recruit mortality rates.
• Maintaining the current level of fishery removals would not likely substantially change the exploitation rate in 2009.

Division 3NO

• The fishery has been primarily concentrated along the shelf edge. Landings increased by 22% from 3600 t in 2005 to 4400 t in 2008 while effort increased by 57%, to an all-time high in 2008.
• CPUE has declined since 2002, to its lowest level in 2008.
• Trends in the exploitable biomass are uncertain as survey indices are unreliable.
• Recruitment has been increasing and is expected to increase further over the next two to three years.
• The abundance of pre-recruits is expected to increase in 2009. This could pose a risk of high fishery-induced mortality to soft-shelled immediate pre-recruits in 2009.

Subdivision 3Ps Offshore

• Landings increased by 35% from 2340 t in 2006 to 3180 t in 2008, following a 46% decline from 2002-06. Effort increased by 19% in 2007 and decreased by 25% in 2008 to its lowest level since 2001.
• CPUE increased by 48% in 2008 but remains below the long-term average.
• Trends in the exploitable biomass are uncertain but the level remains low.  The post season trap survey exploitable biomass index increased slightly since 2004. Meanwhile the pre-season trawl survey exploitable biomass index has shown no trend and remains well below pre-2001 levels.
• The pre-season trawl survey indicates that recruitment has been increasing and is expected to increase further over the next two to three years.
• Exploitation rate indices based on trap and trawl surveys have shown no consistent trend over the past 4 years. The trawl survey pre-recruit fishing mortality index has declined sharply since 2003 to a very low level.
• Maintaining the current level of fishery removals would not likely result in a substantial change in fishery-induced mortality.

Subdivision 3Ps Inshore

• Landings doubled from 660 t in 2005 to 1350 t in 2008, following an 80% decline since 2002. Meanwhile, effort changed little since 2005 until it decreased by 22% in 2008.
• CPUE more than doubled since 2005 to the long-term average.
• The exploitable biomass has recently increased. The post-season trap survey exploitable biomass index increased substantially from 2006-08.
• The post-season trap survey indicates that recruitment prospects remain promising in the short-term.
• The post-season trap survey-based exploitation rate index fluctuated without trend during 2005-08. Data are insufficient to estimate pre-recruit fishing mortality rates.
• Fishery removals could likely be increased in 2009 without increasing the exploitation rate.

Division 4R Offshore

• Landings and effort peaked in 2002 before steadily declining to historical lows in 2006.  Landings and effort have been variable in recent years, but remained at low levels.
• There are insufficient data to assess resource status.

Division 4R Inshore

• Landings declined by 74% from 950 t in 2003 to a record low of 250 t in 2008. Effort decreased sharply in 2005 and changed little since.
• CPUE has steadily declined since 2002 to its lowest level in 2008.
• Post-season trap survey catch rates show that the exploitable biomass declined from 2004–06 and changed little since.
• Recruitment is expected to change little over the next two to three years.
• Maintaining the current level of fishery removals would likely result in little change in the exploitation rate in 2009.

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