Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update on American Lobster in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

June 3, 2015
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Andrew Newbould

Context

Lobster in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34 is assessed on a multiyear assessment schedule, with full assessments conducted every 5 years and Update reports produced in interim years. The last full assessment of LFA 34 lobster (to the end of the 2011-12 season) was conducted in February 2013 (DFO 2013, Tremblay et el. 2013).  The last stock assessment update was completed in 2014 (DFO 2014).

The 2013 assessment identified three key indicators that capture changes in lobster abundance and proposed reference points for each indicator. This Update reports on these indicators to the end of the 2013-14 fishing season.

Objectives

The objective of this meeting is to review the 2015 Update report and ensure that the approach agreed to at the 2013 assessment has been applied, specifically, to ensure that the following indicators have been accurately assessed against the agreed to reference points:

• Lobster landings
• Commercial catch rate of lobster
• Fishery independent survey (ITQ) catch rate of lobster

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

DFO. 2013. Assessment of Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/024.

DFO. 2014. Lobster (Homarus americanus) off Southwest Nova Scotia (Lobster Fishing Area 34): 2014 Stock Status Update. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2014/036

Tremblay, M.J., Pezzack, D.S., Gaudette, J., Denton, C., Cassista-Da Ros, M., and Allard, J. 2013. Assessment of Lobster (Homarus americanus) off Southwest Nova Scotia and in the Bay of Fundy (Lobster Fishing Areas 34-38). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc.2013/078. viii + 125 p.