Terms of Reference

Proposal for Limit Reference Points as Part of the Development of a Precautionary Approach for the Snow Crab Stocks in Areas 12B, 12C, 15 and 16A

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

November 29, 2024

Mont-Joli, QC

Chairperson: Rénald Belley

Context

Canada has committed at national and international levels to applying the precautionary approach (DFO 2006) in the fisheries decision-making process. In recent years, Canada has taken several initiatives to define the precautionary approach in the fisheries context, to establish benchmarks consistent with this approach, and to apply it to fisheries management.

Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) populations in the estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence are divided into 9 stocks (13 to 17, 12A, 12B, 12C and 16A), and a precautionary approach is being developed for each stock.

The Fisheries Management (FM) Branch has asked DFO Science to propose limit reference points (LRPs) for fishing areas 12B, 12C, 15 and 16A based on the precautionary approach (DFO 2009).

Objectives

The objective of the meeting is to define limit reference points in accordance with the precautionary approach for the Snow crab stocks in areas 12B, 12C, 15 and 16A. In order to achieve this, the following elements will be presented:

• A revised methodology for determining the main indicators of abundance and biomass
• Different scenario proposals for establishing PRLs

Expected Publications

• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Science and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Fishing industry
• Indigenous communities/organizations

References

• DFO. 2006. A Harvest Strategy Compliant with the Precautionary Approach. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2006/023.
• DFO. 2009. A fishery decision-making framework incorporating the precautionary approach.