Terms of Reference

Stock Assessment of Snow Crab in Maritimes Region

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

February 19-20, 2025

Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Tara McIntyre

Context

The Resource Management sector of Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has requested detailed advice on the status of Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio, O. Fabricius) stocks on the Scotian Shelf to inform recommendations for management decisions for the upcoming fishing season in North-Eastern Nova Scotia (N-ENS; formerly CFAs 20-22), South-Eastern Nova Scotia, S-ENS; formerly CFAs 23, 24), and Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Division 4X.

The last full stock assessment for the Snow Crab stocks on the Scotian Shelf was completed in March 2024 (DFO 2024).

In support of the fishery, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Maritimes Fisheries Management Branch requested that DFO Science Branch assess the status of the resource for the coming fishing season. The last Snow Crab Science Advisory Meeting was completed in March 2024.

Objectives

Provide advice on:

• Stock status and trends, including the historical and recent trajectory of both stock and fishing indicators (e.g., total biomass, fishable biomass, recruitment, fishing mortality, distribution, other relevant biological characteristics).
• Environmental and climate change considerations affecting the stock including relevant summaries of oceanographic conditions, biological community structure and trends, and pertinent knowledge of ecological interactions (e.g., predator, prey), where data is available.

Evaluate:

• Bycatch of non-target species in the 2024 Snow Crab fishery, where data is available.
• Major sources of uncertainty, where applicable.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• DFO Science and Resource Management
• Indigenous Communities/Organizations
• Fishing Industry
• Provincial representative
• Non-government organizations
• Academia

References

• DFO. 2024. Assessment of Scotian Shelf Snow Crab from 2023. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2024/062.