NAFO Division 2J3KLNOPs Collaborative Post-Season Snow Crab Trap Survey 2014

Description

In 2012, Canadian Snow Crab exports were valued at some $429 million, making it the second most valuable Canadian fishery export product. However, the exploitable biomass has recently declined in all areas except on and adjacent to the Grand Banks in Divisions 3LNO. To adequately assess the status of crab stocks and recruitment prospects—the number of crabs that will enter the fishery (exploitable biomass) in a given year—a variety of information, including fishery-independent data, is required. This project will implement a scientifically sound, post-season survey of Snow Crab in management areas located in NAFO Divisions 2J3KLNOPs, ranging from southern Labrador to southern Newfoundland.

The survey, conducted annually from 2004 to 2013, will continue to gather catch rate ^{Footnote 1} and biological data. Catch rate data for each management area will be used to develop biomass and recruitment indices for use in the annual resource assessment. This survey represents the only source of fishery-independent data for inshore areas. In offshore areas, trends in biomass and recruitment are compared to those collected during the DFO summer survey. The research will increase knowledge of Snow Crab resources in all management areas, helping to support the sustainable management of this valuable fishery and resource.

Program Name

Fisheries Science Collaborative Program (FSCP)

Year(s)

2003 - Present

Ecoregion(s)

Atlantic: Newfoundland, Labrador Shelves

Principal Investigator(s)

Darrell Mullowney
Fisheries and Oceans Canada