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Research Document - 2001/094

Spatial and Temporal Trends in the American Lobster, Homarus americanus, Fishery in the Bay of Fundy (Lobster Fishing Areas 35, 36, and 38)

By P. Lawton, D.A. Robichaud, M.B. Strong, D.S. Pezzack, and C.F. Frail

Abstract

Temporal trends in landings for Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 35, 36, and 38 are reviewed, as are key fisheries sampling programs conducted from 4 principal fishing ports since 1977. Landings were stable between 1986/87 and 1993/94 (range 942 - 1046 t), then increased to 2566 t by 1998/99. Changes in participation level (particularly in LFAs 35 and 36) and exploration of new fishing grounds account for some of this increase. There are indications of a major recruitment pulse in the lobster population during the 1990's.  Recent fishery-dependent recruitment signals in the upper Bay of Fundy fishery in LFA 35 are lower than those seen in the mid-1990's. Available pre-recruit indices are reviewed, as are uncertainties in extending conclusions on lower recruitment levels from a restricted set of survey locations to the fishery in general.

The spatial distribution of the lobster fishery was modeled for the 1998/99 and 1999/2000 fishing seasons using an assumption-based allocation of landings in relation to a 10-min grid system, and expansion of landings to catch at size, using an expanded at-sea sampling program. For the 1999/2000 fishing season in LFAs 35-38 (which had the highest sampling frequency), 63 - 68% of lobsters estimated to have been landed were in the first molt group (81-94 mm CL). LFA 35-38 catches contain greater percentages of lobsters in larger molt groups (7 - 14% 110+ mm CL) than the catch in the adjacent LFA 34 fishery (4% 110+ mm CL).

Estimates of exploitation rates and assessment modelling using the egg per recruit approach presented in the last assessment were not updated due to the uncertainty in recruitment trends.

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