Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update for American Lobster in Lobster Fishing Area 34

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

September 25, 2024

Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Kristian Curran

Context

American Lobster (Homarus americanus) is found in coastal waters from Maryland to southern Labrador, with the major fisheries concentrated in the Gulf of Maine to the Gulf of St. Lawrence areas. Though Lobster is most common in coastal waters, they are also found in deeper, warm water areas of the Gulf of Maine and along the outer edge of the continental shelf from North Carolina to Sable Island on the Scotian Shelf. Lobster in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34 is assessed on a multi-year assessment schedule, with stock framework and assessment science advisory processes conducted approximately every five years and stock status updates conducted in the interim years. The last framework and assessment reviews were conducted in 2019 (Cook et al. 2023; DFO 2021). The 2019 framework presented a suite of primary, secondary, and contextual indicators for use as stock assessment indicators, as well as upper stock and limit reference indicators. The last interim stock update was conducted in 2022 (DFO 2023).

This interim stock update reports on the primary and secondary indicators to the end of the 2023-2024 fishing season.

Objectives

The objective of this process is to update the following:

• Survey indices (where available)
• Relative fishing mortality
• Lobster landings
• Fishing effort
• Commercial catch rates of Lobster

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• DFO Ecosystems and Oceans Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

• Cook, A.M., Hubley, P.B., Howse, V., and Denton, C. 2023. 2019 Framework Assessment of American Lobster (Homarus americanus) in LFA 34-38. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2023/075. vii + 158 p.
• DFO. 2021. Assessment of Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Area 34. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2021/015.
• DFO. 2023. Stock Status Update for American Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Area 34 for 2022. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2023/021.