2018-19 Snow Crab (4X) – Crab Fishing Area 24W

The Maritimes Region 4X snow crab fishery occurs in Crab Fishing Area 24W, as defined by the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 (Schedule XI).

Dates of season

Due to the zero total allowable catch (TAC) decision, referenced below, no season dates have been set for the 2018-19 season.

The season would normally run from November 2018 to March 2019.

Total allowable catches

The 2018-19 TAC for snow crab in 4X was set at 0 t (zero) following the advisory committee meeting in June 2018. This decision is based on the current stock status, as assessed at the Maritimes Region snow crab peer reviewed stock assessment meeting held on February 23, 2018 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia . The stock assessment indicated that the modelled fishable biomass for the 4X snow crab stock has continued to decline and is well into the Critical zone.

According to DFO’s Fishery Decision-Making Framework Incorporating the Precautionary Approach and the agreed upon harvest control rules for this fishery, fishery removals for stocks in the Critical Zone should be reduced to the lowest possible levels. In this case, this means the cessation of directed fishing activities.

As there is no TAC for the fishery, there is also no allocation to be used to contribute funds for the annual snow crab survey, under Section 10 of the Fisheries Act. The survey will, however, continue in the 4X area, and next year’s assessment will provide new information about the stock. Next year’s TAC decision will be based on the stock status as determined in that stock assessment.

Management measures

The snow crab fishery in the Maritimes Region is managed under the Eastern Nova Scotia and 4X Snow Crab Integrated Fisheries Management Plan.

Please contact your regional DFO office for more information: 

902-407-8153 /  DFO.MAR-FM-GP.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Single or multi-year planning

The information provided is applicable to the 2018-19 fishery only.

Links to other information

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