Snow Crab Fishing Areas 2J, 3KLNO, 3Ps, 4R3Pn - Season 2011

Species and Area

Snow crab fishery in areas 2J, 3KLNO, 3Ps, and 4R3Pn (Newfoundland and Labrador)

**Dates of Season**
AREA	2011 Season Dates
2J	2J North: June 15 – August 30 2J South: May 1 – July 15
3K	3A: April 4- July 8 3B, 3C, 3BC: April 4 – June 30 3D: April 4 – June 17 4: April 4 – June 17
3LNO	April 4 – July 31
3Ps	April 4 – June 30 10A: April 4 – July 15 11: April 4 – June 30
4R3Pn	April 4 – June 30 12G: April 11 – May 10

All season closure dates are subject to modification if there is a high incidence of soft shelled crab encountered in the fishery. An individual quota (IQ) is not a guarantee the crab will be landed.

Total Allowable Catch and Sharing Arrangements (if applicable)

While there is only a small decrease (2%) in the overall quota levels for 2011, there are significant quota reductions in some areas of Division 3K (17%). Subdivision 3Ps will see an increase in quotas of 8%, while the overall increase for 3LNO is 3%. The quota in 4R will increase by 14%, due to the re-opening of Area 12G (Bonne Bay) following a 2-year voluntary closure. There will be no change in the quota level in 2J.

**Snow Crab Quotas 2011**
AREA	2011 Quota (t)
2J	2,,197
3K	12,053
3LNO	33,222
3Ps	6,727
4R3Pn	1,038
Total Quota	55,237

**2011 QUOTAS (t) – DIVISION 2J**
Description	Inshore	Supplementary	Fulltime	Communal	Total
2H Communal South of 56o 00’ N				70	70
2J Communal North of 54o 40’ N				362	362
2J Offshore		1,200	240		1,440
2J Inshore	325				325
Total	325	1,200	240	432	2,197

**2011 QUOTAS (t) – DIVISION 3K**
Area	Description	Inshore	Supplementary	Fulltime	Total
3A	Canada Bay	361			361
3B	White Bay	460			460
3C	Green Bay	680			680
3D	Fogo/Twillingate	1,300			1,300
3BC	Inshore 3K	196			196
4	Nearshore 3K	36			36
4	Offshore 3K		6,913	2,107	9,020
Total		3,033	6,913	2,107	12,053

**2011 QUOTAS (t) DIVISION 3LNO Inside 200 Miles**
Area	Description	Inshore	Small Supplementary	Large Supplementary	Fulltime	Total
5A	Bonavista Bay	1,310				1,310
6A	Trinity Bay	1,230				1,230
6B	Conception Bay	1,320				1,320
6C	Eastern Avalon (inside 25)	1,576				1,576
8A	Southern Shore (inside 25)	1060				1060
9A	St. Mary’s Bay	626				626
NS	Near Shore		5,975			5,975
MS	Mid Shore		3,795	761	815	5,371
8B	Southern Avalon (offshore)		650			650
8Bx	Southern Avalon		2,775			2,775
MS EX	Mid-shore extended			1,920	1,860	3,780
3L EX	Between 170 and 200 miles			1,652	1,170	2,822
Total		7,122	13,195	4,333	3,845	28,495

**2011 Quotas Outside 200 Miles**
FLEET	Total
3L Fulltime	1,307
3L Supplementary (> 40 grt)	2,700
Fixed gear vessels >65’	720
TOTAL	4,727

**2011 QUOTAS (t) – DIVISION 3Ps**
AREA	Description	Inshore	Supplementary	Total
10A	Placentia Bay north of 46o30’N	2,212		2,212
10BCD	CFA 10 from 46o30’N to 45o35’N		3,500	3,500
10X	CFA 10 south of 45o35’N		590	590
11S	CFA 11 south of 46o30’N (> 35’ fleet)	55	230	285
11SX		140		140
Total		2,407	4,320	6,727

**2011 QUOTAS (t) – DIVISION 4R3Pn**
Description	Inshore	Commercial	Total
South of Table Pt, 3Pn (outside 8) Group 1		38	38
South of Table Pt, 3Pn (outside 8) Group 2		307	307
South of Table Pt, 3Pn (outside 8) Group 3		73	73
Bay of Islands		64	64
Bay St. George		15	15
Lapoile Bay	8		8
Cape Ray to Johnson’s Cove	18		18
Johnson’s Cove to Cp St. George	143		143
Cape St. George to Bear Head	76		76
Bear Head to Cape St. Gregory	56		56
Inner Bay of Islands	54		54
Cape St. Gregory to Broom Point	130		130
Broom Point to Table Point	56		56
Total	541	497	1,038

Management Measures

This is the last year of a three-year (2009-2011) Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP). The IFMP document is available online.

The management approach supports sustainability of the snow crab resource, and recognizes improvements in the resource due to recent management measures developed between Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists, fisheries managers and crab harvesters. This approach includes the continuation of early and shortened fishing seasons, mandatory sorting of undersized crab on deck, improved soft-shell protocols with effective monitoring, at-sea observer coverage, quota increases in some areas that showed improvements in 2010 and quota decreases in areas where the resource declined.

Some fleets will be ready to fish immediately. An early opening in these areas is essential to providing the best opportunity to avoid high incidence of soft shell during the fishery and to spread the landings over a longer period of time, consistent with market considerations and the Ocean–to-Plate direction. In addition grid based soft-shell protocols are continued in all areas. Areas closed as a result of soft-shell crab will remain closed for the remainder of the year. All season closure dates are subject to modification if there is a high incidence of soft shelled crab encountered in the fishery. An individual quota (IQ) does not guarantee that it will be landed.

There are concerns with ghost fishing of lost crab traps in the Newfoundland and Labrador Snow Crab fishery. The Marine institute, in co-operation with DFO and harvesters, has completed a study on the use of biodegradable twine sections in crab gear. The study reveals that biodegradable twine is very effective in preventing ghost fishing and has no impact on commercial fishing operations. Based on the results of the study, and the feedback received during this year’s consultation process, the use of biodegradable twine in all crab traps in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region will be mandatory in 2013. This advanced notice will give harvesters ample opportunity to implement. Further discussions will take place at future consultations.

Area specific measures

Division 2J

There is no change in snow crab allocations in Divisions 2J for 2011.

Division 3K

The snow crab quota allocation in Division 3K will decrease by seventeen percent in 2011 to 12,031 tonnes from 14,440 tonnes in 2010.

Area 3K Offshore quota will be decreased by eighteen percent. The offshore individual quotas (IQ’s) will be reduced by twenty percent. However, if harvesters land their entire IQ prior to May 31, the IQ will be reduced by fifteen percent.
Area 3A allocations will decrease by fifteen percent.
Area 3B allocations will decrease by twelve percent.
Area 3C allocations will decrease by three percent.
Area 3BC allocations will decrease by twenty two percent.
Area 3D allocations will be reduced by thirteen percent.

Division 3LNO:

The overall quota allocation of snow crab in 3LNO will be increased by three percent, from 32,284 tonnes in 2010 to 33,222 tonnes in 2011. The increase applies only to area allocations inside Canada’s 200-mile limit. Allocation outside the 200-mile limit will remain unchanged.

Outside 200 mile limit

Allocations remain unchanged from 2010 at 4,727 tonnes.

Inside 200 mile limit

The overall quota allocation of snow crab in 3LNO (Inside 200) will be increased by three percent, from 27,557 tonnes in 2010 to 28,495 tonnes in 2011.

Mid-shore allocations will be increased by ten percent.
Mid-Shore Extended allocations will be increased by fifteen percent.
Nearshore allocations will be increased by five percent.
Area 5A allocations will be decreased by twenty percent.
Areas 6A, 6B, 6C, 8A, 8B, 8Bx, 9A, and 3L Extended allocations will not change in 2011.

Subdivision 3Ps

The quota allocation for snow crab in Division 3Ps will be increased from 6,205 tonnes in 2010 to 6,727 tonnes in 2011, a difference of 8 percent.

Area 10A allocations will be increased by fifteen percent.
Area 10BCD, allocations will be increased by six percent.
Area 11Sx allocations will increase by fifteen percent.
Area 10X and 11S allocation will remain unchanged.
A small exploratory fishery in 11E and 11W will continue on a similar basis as 2010.

Division 4R and Subdivision 3Pn

The allocations for Area 4R3Pn will increase by fourteen percent due to the re-opening on Area 12G- Bonne Bay in 2011.

Links to other information

The Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Advisory Reports on stock status http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/index-eng.htm

http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e0012077
http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e0012077