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Research Document - 2001/131

Analysis of LFA 41 Lobster Catch Rates 1985 to 1999

By Claytor, R., Pezzack, D., Frail, C., Drinkwater, K.

Abstract

Annual standardized lobster catch rates were estimated for five sub-areas of the Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 41. The five sub-areas were: Crowells Basin (1), SW Browns Bank (2), Georges Basin (3), SE Browns Bank (4), and Georges Bank (5). The catch rates were estimated separately for Fall-Winter (October 16 to April 1) and Spring-Summer (April 2 to October 15) for 1985 to 1999 and from 1994 to 1999 separately due to recent changes in the fishery.

Catch rates from the 1985 to 1999 and the 1994 to 1999 analyses were significantly correlated. For the Fall-Winter portion of the seasons, catch rates in all areas were significantly higher in 1999-2000 than in 1998-1999. For areas 1 and 4 they were still below the peak levels achieved in 1994-1995, but for areas 2, 3, and 5 they were the highest estimated in recent years. For the Spring-Summer portion of the seasons, catch rates were higher in 1999-2000 than in 1998-1999 for areas 1, 3, and 5 but none of these were significantly different and in all areas catch rates were still below peak values. Catch rates were significantly correlated among adjacent areas. Interpretation of these associations requires consideration of migratory information from historical tagging studies.

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