2017 Snow Crab Fishery, Newfoundland and Labrador
Snow Crab fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador (Areas 2HJ, 3KLNO, 3Ps, and 4R3Pn)
Fishing season (subject to change)
Description
The following table contains three columns. The first column lists each NAFO Division. The second column lists the Crab Fishing Area. The third column lists the 2017 season dates.
| NAFO Division | Crab Fishing Area | 2017 Season Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 2GHJ | 2GH, 2J North | June 15 – August 30 |
| 2J | 2J South | May 1 – July 15 |
| 3K | 3A, 3BC, 4 | April 14 – June 30 |
| 3D | April 17 – June 30 | |
| 3B | April 23 – June 30 | |
| 3C | May 1 – June 30 | |
| 3LNO | most areas | April 6 – July 31 |
| 8Bx south | April 6 – July 15 | |
| 3Ps | 10B, 11S | April 6 – June 15 |
| 11W | April 6 – May 31 | |
| 11E | April 11 – May 31 | |
| 10A | April 15 – June 15 | |
| 4R3Pn | 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, BSG | April 6 – June 30 |
| 12E, 12F, BOI | April 6 – June 15 | |
| Outside of 8, 12G, 12H | April 17 - June 30 |
Total Allowable Catch
The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Newfoundland and Labrador Region in 2017 is 35,419 tonnes, an overall quota level decrease of approximately 22% from 2016, which includes 2% reduction in 3K, 26% in division 3LNO (46% in the areas outside the 200 mile limit, and 23% in areas inside the 200 mile limit), a 50% reduction in the 3Ps quota, and a 6% reduction in 4R3Pn. Quotas in 2GHJ will remain at 2016 levels. This includes the amount for the Collaborative Post-Season Trap Survey (Use of Fish).
Description
The following table contains two columns. The first column lists the area. The second column lists the quota in tonnes. The last row identifies the total allowable catch.
| AREA | Quota (t)* |
|---|---|
| 2GHJ | 1,865 |
| 3K | 5,794 |
| 3LNO | 24,787 |
| 3Ps | 1,505 |
| 4R3Pn | 998 |
| CPS Trap Survey | 470 |
| TOTAL | 35, 419 |
*numbers may not add due to rounding
Description
The following table contains five columns. The first column lists the Crab Fishing Area. The second column lists the area description. The third column lists the inshore quota(s). The fourth column lists the fulltime - large supplementary quotas. The fifth column lists the communal quota.
| Area | Description | Inshore | Fulltime & Supplementary | Communal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2GH | North of 56o 00’ N | - | - | 100 |
| 2J north | North of 54o 40’ N to 56o 00’ N | - | - | 310 |
| 2J south | 2J South of 54o 40’ N | 290 | 1,165 | - |
The 2J TAC is 1,865 tonnes.
Description
The following table contains four columns. The first column lists the Crab Fishing Area. The second column lists the area description. The third column lists the inshore quota(s). The fourth column lists the fulltime - large supplementary quotas.
| Area | Description | Inshore | Fulltime & Supplementary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3A | Canada Bay | 292 | - |
| 3B | White Bay | 378 | - |
| 3C | Green Bay | 338 | - |
| 3BC | Inshore 3K | 166 | - |
| 3D | Fogo/Twillingate | 700 | - |
| 4 | Offshore | 17 | 3,903 |
The 3K TAC is 5,794 tonnes.
Description
The following table contains six columns. The first column lists the Crab Fishing Area. The second column lists the area description. The third column lists the inshore quota(s). The fourth column lists the small supplementary or commercial quotas. The fifth column lists the fulltime - large supplementary quotas. The sixth column lists the greater than 65 foot quotas.
| Area | Description | Inshore | Small Supplementary |
Fulltime & Supplementary | > 65' |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5A | Bonavista Bay | 945 | - | - | - |
| 6A | Trinity Bay | 1,197 | - | - | - |
| 6B | Conception Bay | 1,500 | - | - | - |
| 6C | Eastern Avalon (inside 25) | 1,357 | - | - | - |
| 8A | Southern Shore (inside 25) | 736 | - | - | - |
| 9A | St. Mary’s Bay | 477 | - | - | - |
| 8B | Southern Avalon (offshore) | - | 640 | - | - |
| 8Bx | Southern Avalon | - | 80 | - | - |
| 8Bx North | Northern portion of Southern Avalon | - | 288 | - | - |
| 8Bx South | Southern portion of Southern Avalon | - | 398 | - | - |
| NS | Nearshore | - | 5,367 | - | - |
| MS | Midshore | - | 3,036 | 1,261 | - |
| MS/EX | Mid-shore extended | - | - | 3,024 | - |
| 3L EX | Between 170 and 200 miles | - | - | 2,117 | - |
| 3L 200 | 3L Outside 200 miles | - | - | 985 | - |
| 3N 200 | 3N Outside 200 miles | - | - | 1,011 | - |
| 3NO 200 | 3NO Outside 200 miles | - | - | - | 368 |
The 3LNO TAC is 24,787 tonnes.
Description
The following table contains four columns. The first column lists the Crab Fishing Area. The second column lists the area description. The third column lists the inshore quota(s). The fourth column lists the small supplementary quota(s).
| Area | Description | Inshore | Small Supplementary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10A | Placentia Bay north of 46o30’N | 560 | - |
| 10B | Placentia Bay south of 46o30’N | - | 803 |
| 11S | CFA 11 south of 46o30’N | 50 | - |
| 11E | CFA 11 east of Western Head | 79 | - |
| 11W | CFA 11 west of Western Head | 14 | - |
The 3Ps TAC is 1,505 tonnes.
Description
The following table contains four columns. The first column lists the Crab Fishing Area. The second column lists the area description. The third column lists the inshore quota(s). The fourth column lists the commercial quotas.
| Area | Description | Inshore | Commercial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Outside of 8 mile - Group 1 | - | 38 |
| 12 | Outside of 8 mile - Group 2 | - | 307 |
| 12 | Outside of 8 mile - Group 3 | - | 73 |
| 12 | Bay of Islands | - | 51 |
| 12 | Bay St. George | - | 20 |
| 12A | Lapoile Bay | 8 | - |
| 12B | Cape Ray to Johnson’s Cove | 18 | - |
| 12C | Johnson’s Cove to Cape St. George | 139 | - |
| 12D | Cape St. George to Bear Head | 76 | - |
| 12E | Bear Head to Cape St. Gregory | 45 | - |
| 12F | Inner Bay of Islands | 43 | - |
| 12G | Cape St. Gregory to Broom Point | 130 | - |
| 12H | Broom Point to Table Point | 50 | - |
The 4R3Pn TAC is 998 tonnes.
The Collaborative Post-Season Trap Survey (Use of Fish) TAC is 470 tonnes.
The overall TAC is 35,419 tonnes.
Management measures
The management approach supports sustainability of the Snow crab resource. This approach includes the continuation of early and shortened fishing seasons, strict soft-shell protocols, and no fall fishery in 3K, maintaining quota levels in 2J, quota decreases in one area of division 3K, all areas of divisions 3LNO, all areas of sub-division 3Ps, and quota decreases in three areas in division 4R3Pn. 3Ps Supplementary fleet quotas in 10BCD, 10X and 11S will be merged into one allocation.
Some fleets will be ready to fish immediately. An early opening in these areas is essential to providing the best opportunity to avoid high incidence of soft-shell during the fishery and to spread the landings over a longer period of time. In addition, grid based soft-shell protocols are continued in all areas. Areas closed as a result of soft-shell Crab will remain closed for the remainder of the year. Grids closed for soft-shell crab in Shrimp Fishing Areas 4, 5 or 6 will also be closed to Shrimp harvesting for 60 days. 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 all Crab will be landed.
Division 2GHJ
- The harvest levels for 2GHJ will remain unchanged in 2017.
Division 3K
The overall Snow crab quota in Division 3K will decrease by 2% in 2017 to 5,794 tonnes from 5,889 tonnes in 2016.
- Harvest level in area 3B will be decreased by 20% in 2017.
- The harvest levels in areas 3A, 3BC, 3C, 3D and 4 will remain unchanged in 2017.
Division 3LNO
The overall quota of Snow crab in 3LNO will be decreased by 26%, from 33,486 tonnes in 2016 to 24,787 tonnes in 2017.
- Harvest levels in areas 5A, and 8A will be decreased by 15% in 2017.
- Harvest levels in areas 6A, 9A, 8B, Midshore and Midshore extended will be decreased by 20% in 2017.
- Harvest levels in area 6B, 6C, Nearshore, and 3L extended will be decreased by 25% in 2017.
- Harvest levels in area 8Bx, 8Bx north, 8Bx south and 3L outside 200 miles will be decreased by 40% in 2017.
- Harvest levels in areas 3NO outside 200 miles will be decreased by 50% in 2017.
Subdivision 3Ps
The overall quota for Snow crab in Sub- division 3Ps will be decreased by 50% in 2017.
- Harvest levels in areas 10A, 10B, 11S, 11E, 11W will be decreased by 50% in 2017.
Division 4R and Subdivision 3Pn
The overall quota for Snow crab in division 4R and sub-division 3Pn will be decreased by 6% in 2017.
- Harvest levels in areas Outside of 8 miles, 12A, 12B, 12D, and 12G will remain unchanged in 2017.
- Harvest levels in areas 12C and Bay St. George will be decreased by 15% in 2017.
- Harvest levels in areas 12E, 12F, and Bay of Islands will be decreased by 20% in 2017.
Links to other information
- Date modified: