Science Advisory Report  2016/043

2015 Lobster stocks assessment in the Gaspé, Quebec area (LFAS 19, 20 and 21)

Summary

• Landings, the main abundance indicator, reached an all-time high of 1 802 tonnes in 2015, which is 106% greater than 2011 values, and 98% greater than the average over the last 25 years for similar fishing effort since 2008, and below the 1994–2004 level. In 2015, 87% of Gaspé landings came from Area 20, 7% from Area 21, and 6% from Area 19.
• For the entire Gaspé area, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) in weight from commercial sampling rose sharply, reaching an all-time high in 2014–2015. In Area 19, the CPUE increased by 238% from 2011 (0.48 kg/trap) to 2015 (1.61 kg/trap). In Area 20, the CPUE increased by 41.3% from 2011 (0.34 kg/trap) to 2015 (0.48 kg/trap). In Area 21, the CPUE increased by 213% from 2011 (2.04 kg/trap) to 2015 (2.54 kg/trap).
• In Areas 19 and 21, demographic indicators showed that the average size of commercial lobsters was large (96.8 mm and 96.3 mm) in 2015 and that it had decreased slightly in Area 19 and was variable in Area 21 but increased overall since 2011. In Area 20, the average size of commercial lobsters changed little since 2008 (≈ 88 mm), apart from a slight 0.8 mm decrease in the size of males between 2014 and 2015. The size structures of commercial lobsters are much wider in Areas 19 and 21 than in Area 20.
• Fishing pressure indicators could not be estimated for Areas 19 and 21. In Area 20, exploitation rates were lower between 2011 and 2014 (71.6%) than between 2008 and 2010 (78.8%) but remained very high, at around 74% in 2014.
• Productivity indicators were high in Area 20. The abundance of berried females has continued to increase since 2011, and the egg production increase factor compared to the 1994–1996 period was around 3.0x in 2015, as it was in 2011. However, the contribution of multiparous females to egg production has been on a downward trend since 2005. The abundance of prerecruits in area 20 in 2015 remains high, suggesting that landing levels will remain high in the short run. This information is not available for the other areas.
• High abundance, productivity and landings indicate that the Gaspé lobster stock is in good condition and in the healthy zone according to the precautionary approach. In recent years, indicators have remained the same or improved based on prevailing environmental conditions and exploitation levels. However, in Area 20, the small average size of commercial lobsters and the high exploitation rate suggest that actions on reducing fishing effort must be pursued.

This Science Advisory Report is from the February 25 and 26, 2016 meeting on the Assessment of Lobster in Quebec Inshore Waters. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

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