Terms of Reference

Stock Assessment of Rock Crab in Quebec Inshore Waters

Regional Peer Review – Quebec Region

February 5, 2013
Mont-Joli, Québec

Chairperson: Martin Castonguay

Context

In Quebec, commercial fishing of rock crab began in 1988, but the fishery did not really begin to take off until 1995, first in the southern part of the Gaspé Peninsula (12E-Z) and Magdalen Islands (12A-C), then along the north shore of the Gaspé Peninsula (12D and 17) and, since 2004, on the North Shore and Anticosti Island (16B–E).

The fishery is managed by limiting fishing effort. The number of licences and trap sizes are limited, as is the fishing season. Furthermore, catches are limited by individual quotas in the Magdalen Islands, and up to 2008, by an overall quota in Areas 12Y and 12Z. A minimum legal carapace width has been set at 102 mm creating an exclusively male-directed fishery. Keeping a log-book is mandatory.

At the request of the Fisheries Management Branch, resource assessment is done every three years since 2007. The last rock crab stock review was done in 2010. The objective of the review is to determine whether changes that have occurred in the stock status necessitate adjustments to management plans based on the conservation approach used.

Objectives

Provide scientific advice on the management of rock crab stocks in Quebec’s inshore waters (management units 12, 16 and 17) for the 2013-2015 fishing seasons. This advice shall include:

• Conclusions of an assessment of the status of rock crab populations in management units 12 in the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands, 17 in Gaspé Peninsula and 16 on North Shore since 2009, based on following data for 2010 to 2012:
  • commercial fishery statistics ;
  • effort and CPUE;
  • size structure.
    
    
• The identification and priorization of research projects to be considered for the future.
  
  
• Perspectives and/or recommendations on the current measures of management in the Magdalen Islands, in the Gaspé Peninsula and on North Shore for the 20013-2015 fishing seasons.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)

Participation

• DFO Science and Fisheries Management
• Fishing industry
• Provincial representatives
• Aboriginal communities/organizations