Terms of Reference

2015 Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 41 Lobster Stock Status Update

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

October 6, 2015
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

Lobster in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 41 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 41 lobster (to the end of the 2012 season) was conducted in January 2014 (DFO 2014a). The last update of the stock was completed in October 2014 (DFO 2014b).

The 2014 assessment identified 12 primary indicators that capture changes in lobster abundance, exploitation and reproductive potential. “Boundaries” were identified for each indicator. When interpreting the primary indicators, if all indicators remain above the upper boundary, the population is considered to be in the healthy zone. The stock would enter the cautious zone only if the abundance declined below the boundary and the size indicators also declined to below the boundary.

This Update reports on these indicators to the end of the 2014-15 fishing season.

Objectives

The objective of this meeting is to review the 2015 Update report and ensure that the approach agreed to at the 2014 assessment has been applied, specifically, to ensure that the following indicators have been accurately assessed against the agreed to reference points:

• Catch rates of lobster from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) summer Research Vessel (RV) survey and the DFO winter RV survey
• Catch rates of large female lobster from the DFO summer RV survey and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) fall RV survey
• Median size of female lobsters from the DFO summer RV survey and the NMFS fall RV survey

Median size of female lobsters from commercial at-sea samples (Southwest Browns, spring; Southwest Browns, fall; Georges Basin, winter’ Georges Basin, spring; Southeast Browns, spring; Georges Bank, spring)

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

DFO. 2014a. Assessment of Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Area 41 (4X + 5Zc). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2014/034.

DFO. 2014b. 2014 Stock Status Update for Lobster Fishing Area 41 (4X + 5Zc) Lobster. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2014/051.