Science Advisory Report 2018/047
Assessment of the Estuary and Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 13 to 17, 12A, 12B, 12C and 16A) Snow Crab Stocks in 2017
Summary
- With the exception of the St. Lawrence Estuary (Area 17), all stocks in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (areas 13, 14, 15, 16, 16A, 12A, 12B and 12C) had a decreased commercial biomass in 2017 compared to 2016. Recruitment to the fishery decreased in 2017, except in areas 16 and 12A, suggesting a decrease in the biomass available to the fishery in 2018 in the northern Gulf. The commercial biomass in the Estuary (Area 17) increased as a result of a recruitment to the fishery that was still high in 2017. However, a decrease in the abundance of adolescents less than 78 mm suggests a decline in recruitment in two or more years. The commercial biomass decreased in areas 12A and 12B, and recruitment during the next few years could depend on productivity in adjacent areas.
- The purpose of conservation is to maintain an adequate male reproductive biomass in order to ensure the recovery or maintenance of the population in a given area. Recommendations assume that the natural mortality rate will be the same in 2018 as in previous years.
This Science Advisory Report is from the February 13-14, 2018, meeting on the Assessment of the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence Snow Crab stocks. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.
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