2019 Snow Crab Fishery, Newfoundland and Labrador

Snow Crab fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador (Areas 2HJ, 3KLNO, 3Ps, and 4R3Pn)

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 2018 season dates.

TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH

The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Newfoundland and Labrador Region in 2019 is 26,894 tonnes, an overall quota level decrease of 9% from 2018, which includes no change in 2HJ, a 1% decrease in 3K, a 16% decrease in 3LNO (26% in the areas outside the 200 mile limit, and 15% in areas inside the 200 mile limit), a 48% increase in the 3Ps quota, a 39% reduction in 4R3Pn, and includes the quota for the Collaborative Post-Season Trap Survey (Use of Fish).

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.

*numbers may not add due to rounding

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. 

The 2GHJ TAC is 1,865 tonnes.

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.

The 3K TAC is 5,856 tonnes.

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.

The 3LNO TAC is 15,818 tonnes.
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).

The 3Ps TAC is 2,649 tonnes.

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.

The 4R3Pn TAC is 306 tonnes.
The Collaborative Post-Season Trap Survey (Use of Fish) TAC is 400 tonnes.
The overall TAC is 26,894 tonnes.

Management measures

The proposed management approach for 2019 includes the continuation of early and shortened fishing seasons, 6.4m limit of floating rope on the water, the soft-shell protocol, introducing a steam time of 6 hours for inshore fleets and 72 hours for all offshore fleets, decreasing quota levels in Divisions 3K, 3LNO and 4R3Pn, maintaining status quo in 2HJ and increasing quotas in Subdivision 3Ps.

Some fleets will be ready to fish on April 8. 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. Areas 3N outside 200 miles, 12B, 12D, 12H and Outside 8 mile (4R3Pn) will transition from an individual quota to a harvesting cap management regime. 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 2HJ

• The overall quota of Snow crab in 2GHJ will remain unchanged in 2019 at 1,865 tonnes.

Division 3K
The overall quota of Snow crab in 3LNO will be decreased by 1% in 2019 to 5,856 tonnes from 5,932 tonnes in 2018.

• Harvest levels in 3B will be decreased by 20% in 2019.
• The harvest levels for other areas in 3K will remain unchanged in 2019.

Division 3LNO
The overall quota of Snow crab in 3LNO will be decreased by 16% in 2019 to 15,818 tonnes from 18,839 tonnes in 2018.

• Harvest levels in Midshore, Midshore extended and 3L extended will remain unchanged in 2019
• Harvest levels in areas 5A, 6A and 8B will be decreased by 10% in 2019.
• Harvest levels in area 8BX and 3L 200 will be decreased by 20% in 2019.
• Harvest levels in area Nearshore will be decreased by 25% in 2019.
• Harvest levels in areas 8Bx north, 8Bx south, 9A, 3N 200 and 3NO200 will be decreased by 30% in 2019.
• Harvest levels in area 8A will be decrease by 40% in 2018.
• Harvest levels in areas 6B and 6C will be decreased by 50% in 2019.

Subdivision 3Ps
The overall quota for Snow crab in Sub- division 3Ps will be increased by 48% in 2019.

• Harvest levels in areas 10A, 10B, 11S, and 11W will be increased by 50% in 2019.
• Harvest levels for area 11E will remain unchanged in 2019.

Division 4R and Subdivision 3Pn
The overall quota for Snow crab in division 4R and sub-division 3Pn will be decreased by 39% in 2019.

• Harvest levels in areas 12C, 12E, 12F, and 12G will be decreased by 25% in 2019.
• Harvest levels in areas Outside of 8 miles, 12A, 12B, 12D, and 12H will be decreased by 50% in 2019.

Links to other information

• The Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Advisory Reports on stock status
• Newfoundland and Labrador Region Statistical Reports