Terms of Reference

Review of the Assessment Framework for LFA 27-33 Lobster

Maritimes Science Advisory Process

February 1-3, 2011
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Chair: Ross Claytor

Context

Lobsters (Homarus americanus) are found in coastal waters from southern Labrador to Maryland, with the major fisheries concentrated around the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Gulf of Maine. Though lobster are most common in coastal waters, they are also found in deeper, warm water areas of the Gulf of Maine and along the outer edge of the continental shelf from Sable Island to off North Carolina. 

The status of the lobster resources in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 27-33 was last assessed in 2004. Fisheries and Aquaculture management has requested updated information on the status of the LFA 27-33 lobster stocks, and a new assessment framework is required to establish the scientific basis for the provision of management advice in 2011.

Currently there are no direct indicators of abundance available for the lobster fishery and reference points in the draft IFMP have been tentatively framed in terms of landings. It is recognized that landings are not a very sensitive indicator of biomass given the influence of changes in effort, efficiency and catchability and there is a need to develop biologically-based reference points.    The potential for alternate proxies for biomass will be evaluated.   

Objectives

• Identify groups of LFAs for stock assessment
• Identify links between life-history (size-at-maturity, recruitment) and lobster management (update and reporting on information and assumptions used).
• Identify strengths and weaknesses of fishery data inputs for providing indicators of abundance, size structure, recruitment, effort, spatial distribution of catch.
  • Port and at sea sampling protocols
• Observer sampling (including bycatch sampling associated with SARA) 
• Logbooks
• Fishermen and Scientists Research Society (FSRS) information
• Select indicators of abundance, with a focus on a proposed catch rate model.
• Select indicators of recruitment and reproduction (spawners)
• Select indicators of fishing pressure. 
• For the selected indicators develop candidate reference points that would form the bases for decisions by Fisheries Management.
• Development of an assessment schedule, including guidelines for the monitoring of the indicators and other events that would trigger an earlier than scheduled assessment.

Expected Publications

CSAS Research Document(s)
CSAS Proceedings

Participants

DFO Science
DFO FAM
Provincial representatives (NS)
Industry, including Lobster Advisory Committee members and FSRS members
External Reviewer(s)
NGOs
First Nations