2020 - Snow Crab tagging study

Moncton and Quebec – March 23, 2020

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is informing snow crab fish harvesters fishing in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence that a tagging study is currently being conducted by DFO Science to better understand the movement of snow crab.

What to do if you capture a tagged snow crab?

• Record the tag number, the date and position of catch (minimum information required for the study) and then return the tagged crab (without cutting off the tag) to the water as soon as possible. Returning the tagged snow crab at sea allows multiple recaptures of the same animal during its lifespan.

• The following information would also be beneficial to DFO:
• name of fishing vessel;
• catch position; and
• any other information associated with the catch of the tagged snow crab such as carapace condition, water temperature and/or depth of water at catch position (fathoms).

The information can be emailed to: Mikio.Moriyasu@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, sent by text to (506) 852-0022 or sent by mail to the following address:

DFO Snow Crab Section
P.O. Box 5030,
Moncton, New Brunswick
E1C 9B6

For further information:

Mikio Moriyasu
Science Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Moncton, New Brunswick
506-851-6135