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Research Document 1997/111

Assessment of the 1995 and 1996 snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) exploratory fisheries in the Laurentian Channel (zone E) and the Magdalen Islands/Cape Breton (zone F) area, in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

By M. Hébert

Abstract

The commercial snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) biomass in the southern Gulf of St-Lawrence (zone 12) has steadly increased since the landings decline in 1987-89 to reach a peak in 1994. In 1995 and 1996, DFO announced the issuance of exploratory permits in adjacent area to the zone 12 snow crab fishery: the Laurentian Chanel (zone E) and the Magdalen Islands/Cape Breton (zone F). Each zone was subjected to an individual boat quota system.

The landings in zone E were 217.0 t in 1995 and 163.5 t in 1996. The fishing effort was 4,033 trap hauls in 1995 and 2,714 trap hauls in 1996. The mean CPUE in 1996 (63.3 kg/trap haul) was higher than the 1995 level (53.8 kg/trap haul).

For the zone F, the landings were 316.8 t in 1995 and 237.8 t in 1996. The fishing effort in 1996 (5,604 trap hauls) has decreased by 51.6 % compared to the 1995 (11,561 trap hauls). The mean CPUE in 1996 (42.4 kg/trap haul) has increased by 35.4 % compared to the 1995 level (27.4 kg/trap haul).

These zones should not be considered as an exploratory zones based on the distribution of the fishing effort, the fishing performance and the distribution of the exploitable biomass. This fishery depends totally on the stock condition of zones 12 and 19. Therefore, a long-term exploitation is doubtful and should be considered as a sporadic exploitation

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