Soft-Shell Crab Protocol

Current Closures

Background

There can be a high level of mortality when handling soft-shell crab in the crab fishery. In an effort to allow timely and effective closures of areas with a high level of soft-shell crab while allowing a fishery to continue in other areas, a grid based soft-shell protocol was developed and implemented in some areas in 2004. The fishing areas are divided into grids and individual grids are closed when the incidence of soft-shell Crab observed by an at-sea-observer exceeds the acceptable limit. This type of system has been implemented in all NAFO Divisions since 2006.

Protocol

A grid-based soft-shell protocol is in effect in all NAFO Areas.
In NAFO Divisions 2J, NAFO Divisions 3K, NAFO Divisions 3Ps and NAFO Divisions 4R grid closures will occur when the incidence of soft-shell Crab observed by an at-sea-observer is 20% or greater.
In NAFO Divisions 3L and NAFO Divisions 3NO individual grids will close when the incidence of soft-shell Crab observed by an at-sea-observer is 15% or greater.
Areas closed as a result of high incidence of soft-shell crab will be closed for the remainder of the year.
All season closure dates are subject to modification if there is a high incidence of soft-shell crab encountered in the fishery. An individual quota (IQ) does not guarantee that it will be landed.

Grid Co-ordinates and Maps

Each NAFO Division is divided into soft-shell monitoring grids.
The coordinates for the four (4) corners of each grid are identified by referencing the X and Y axis on the soft-shell grid map for each NAFO Division.
The area closed by the soft shell grid is described by lines joining Points 1 to 4 as indicated on the soft-shell charts for each NAFO Division. The points are degrees and minutes of North Latitude and West Longitude.
Each NAFO Division has multiple pages. The pages represent the letters and its corresponding coordinates as identified on the soft-shell grid map for each NAFO Division.

Fishing Areas

Date modified:: 2014-03-04

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