Precautionary approach harvest decision rules for the lobster fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence: Lobster Fishing Areas 23, 24, 25, 26A, 26B

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Gulf Region, announces the approval of harvest decision rules in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence lobster fishery.

A joint DFO and industry working group was convened to develop harvest decision rules that conform to the precautionary approach (PA) framework for the lobster fishery. The working group submitted a recommendation to the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL) Lobster Advisory Committee which supported the approach during the meeting. The approved harvest decision rules will be incorporated in the next update of the integrated fisheries management plan.

Following the working group meetings and the comments received at the sGSL Lobster Advisory Committee, the objectives and key considerations of the PA process have been revised and are identified below.

Objectives and key considerations of the PA process of the lobster fishery in the sGSL:

• The precautionary approach is part of DFO’s Sustainable Fisheries Framework.
• The precautionary approach is guided by the principle of respecting Aboriginal rights. In its 1990 Sparrow decision, the Supreme court of Canada found that an Aboriginal right to fish for food, social and ceremonial (FSC) purposes takes priority, after conservation, over other uses of the resource. Therefore, the FSC fisheries would continue in the Cautious zone. Further consultations would be required should the Critical zone be reached.
• Harvest decision rules are part of the Marine Stewardship Council certification conditions for the sGSL lobster fisheries.
• The precautionary approach does not replace the ongoing day to day management of the fishery. While the stock is in the Healthy zone, regular management will continue, including scientific stock status assessments.
• The mutual goal is to keep the stock in the Healthy zone and continue to promote the sustainable management to prevent reaching the Cautious zone.
• If the stock falls below the upper stock reference point (i.e. Cautious zone), the harvest decision rules will be implemented. Consultations will take place with industry and Aboriginal organizations on what specific measures will be taken to reduce fishing efforts within each Lobster Fishing Area (LFA). Specific scenarios per LFA can be decided when the time comes.
• Harvest decision rules are temporary until stock returns to the Healthy zone.
• DFO Science is already working on stock status indicators to establish new stock reference points.

• The reference points for the sGSL lobster stock peer reviewed report is available online.
  

Values of lobster landings corresponding to the proxy for biomass at maximum sustainable yield (BMSY), the upper stock reference (USR), and the limit reference point (LRP) for the entire southern Gulf of St. Lawrence lobster stock.

The latest stock status update done by DFO Science indicates that preliminary landings in 2015 have increased since 2011 to 27,462 t. Reported landings have reached a historical high at 28,186 t in 2014 positioning the sGSL lobster stock in the Healthy Zone.

For more information

Josiane Massiéra
Resource Management, Regional Headquarters
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Region
Moncton, NB
(506) 851-7290

Sandra Comeau
Resource Management, Eastern NB
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Region
Tracadie, NB
(506) 395-7765

Ben Moore
Resource Management, PEI
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Region
Charlottetown, PEI
(902) 370-7094

Alan Dwyer
Resource Management, Gulf NS
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Region
Antigonish, NS
(902) 735-7114