Terms of Reference

Stock Framework for American Lobster in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 35-38

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

October 8-10, 2024

Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Michelle Greenlaw

Context

American Lobster (Homarus americanus) is found in coastal waters from Cape Hatteras to southern Labrador, with the major fisheries concentrated around Gulf of Maine and 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.

Lobster in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 35–38 are assessed on a multi-year assessment schedule, with stock status update reports conducted in the interim years. The last stock framework assessment was conducted in 2019. The 2019 assessment for LFAs 35–38 identified modelled commercial catch per unit effort (CPUE) as the primary indicator. The secondary indicators were identified as landings, total effort, recruit abundance time series from the DFO Scallop and Summer Ecosystem Research Vessel (RV) surveys, commercial biomass estimates from the DFO Summer RV Survey, and relative fishing mortality. The last stock status updates were completed in August (DFO 2023) and October 2023 (DFO 2023). This stock framework will assess the LFAs 35–38 stocks and revisit the indicators and limit reference point (LRP) previously identified and propose new stock assessment indicators and/or a new LRP, as necessary.

Objectives

The objectives of this regional peer review are to:

• Review relevant biological and ecological information (e.g., life history, environmental data).
• Identify strengths and weaknesses of data sources for providing indicators relevant to stock status and advice.
• Explore alternative primary and contextual indicators of stock and ecosystem status.
• Update existing limit reference point (LRP) and/or develop new LRP for primary indicators, as necessary.
• Identify indicators that would be used to characterize stock status in the intervening years of the multi-year stock assessment cycle.
• Propose the frequency and information to be included in interim-year updates.
• Explore and evaluate new indicators of stock productivity.

Expected Publications

• Research Document

Expected Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Fisheries Management
• Indigenous communities/organizations
• Provincial government
• Fishing Industry
• Non-Government Organizations
• Academia
• United States Scientists

References

• DFO. 2023. Stock Status Update of Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Areas 36 and 38 for 2022. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2023/008
• DFO. 2023. Stock Status Update of Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Area 35 for 2022. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2023/006.