Terms of Reference

Stock Framework for American Lobster in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 41

Regional Peer Review – Maritimes Region

November 16-17, 2016
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Tana Worcester

Context

American lobster (Homarus americanus) is found in coastal waters from Maryland to southern Labrador, with the major fisheries concentrated around Gulf of Maine and the Gulf of St. Lawrence areas. Though lobster is 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 North Carolina to Sable Island.

Lobster in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 41 is assessed on a multi-year assessment schedule, with stock status update reports conducted in the interim years. The last stock framework review was conducted in December 2013 and stock assessment was conducted in January 2014 (DFO 2014; Pezzack et al. 2015). The 2014 assessment identified 12 primary indicators that capture changes in lobster abundance, exploitation and reproductive potential. “Boundaries” were identified for each indicator. When interpreting the primary indicators, if all indicators remain above the upper boundary, the population is considered to be in the healthy zone. The stock would enter the cautious zone only if the abundance declined below the boundary and the size indicators also declined to below the boundary. The last stock status update was completed in October 2015 (DFO 2016). This stock framework will revisit the 12 primary indicators previously identified and propose new indications for use as for stock assessment indicators.

Objective

The objectives of this regional peer review are:

• Describe the basis of the management units in context of stock structure.
• Identify strengths and weaknesses of fishery and survey data inputs for providing indicators of abundance, size structure, recruitment, effort, and spatial distribution of catch using observer sampling and trawl survey data.
• Evaluate the suite of indicators that have been used to assess status of the LFA 41 lobster stock in the past, and identify the suite of primary and contextual indicators to be used in assessments and stock status updates. 
• Review relevant biological and ecological information (e.g., life history, fishery footprint, environmental data).
• Review habitat suitability modelling work to date and discuss how this information will be incorporated in assessments and stock status updates.
• Develop the assessment schedule, including guidelines for the monitoring of indicators and other events that would trigger an earlier than scheduled assessment.
• Describe how the bycatch of non-target species in the LFA 41 fishery will be reported in the assessments and stock status updates. 

Expected Publications

• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
• Aboriginal communities / organizations
• Provincial governments (NS)
• Industry Representatives
• Environmental Non-Government Organizations
• Academics

References

DFO. 2014. Assessment of Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Area 41 (4X + 5Zc). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2014/034 (Revised).

DFO. 2016. Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Area 41 (4X + 5Z): 2015 Stock Status Update. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2016/004.

Pezzack, D.S., C. Denton, M. Cassista-Da Ros, and M.J. Tremblay. 2015. Assessment of the Canadian LFA 41 Offshore Lobster (Homarus americanus) Fishery (NAFO Divisions 4X 5Zc). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2015/066. v + 79 p.