Newfoundland’s snow crab stock remains healthy: DFO
Exploitable biomass index, which saw historic lows in 2016–2018, remained in 2023 close to what it was in 2022
The snow crab stock in the waters off the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador will remain in the healthy zone in 2024, according to the latest assessment by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
The stocks off the Labrador coast, however, are projected to remain in the cautious zone, according to the stock assessment conclusions announced by DFO during a technical briefing with the media on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
‘RELATIVELY STABLE’
The assessment details were released after DFO held its Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat peer review meeting on snow crab between Feb. 19-22.
The overall exploitable biomass index — the estimated combined weight of male crab large enough to be harvested — has increased from historic lows in 2016–2018. In 2023, the exploitable biomass index remained near the same level as 2022.
“While the overall stock status remains relatively stable, recent environmental conditions may limit the stock’s growth in the shortterm,” the report added.
“This is something we will continue to monitor in future assessments of this stock.”
NEXT STEPS
Snow crab is a cold-water species that typically inhabits a narrow range of temperatures. Variation in temperature has a profound effect on production, early survival and subsequent maturation to be harvested in the fishery.
The results of the snow crab stock assessment will now be presented and discussed at industry and Indigenous groups consultations, which are scheduled to begin this week.
Snow crab quotas will be announced in the coming weeks in advance of the scheduled start of the crab fishery in early April.
KEY POINTS ABOUT SNOW CRAB
• Male snow crab take around nine to 13 years to reach exploitable size, with most
exploitable crab being nine to 11 years of age. An additional year is required after they enter the fishery to progress from a soft- to hard-shelled condition.
• Male and female snow crab terminally molt (i.e., stop growing) at 40–150 mm and 30-70 mm shell width, respectively. Therefore, females are not retained in the fishery.
EXPLOITABLE BIOMASS FOR THE ASSESSMENT DIVISIONS (AD):
• AD 2HJ (the Labrador coast): The exploitable biomass indices have remained
low for many years; however, there were slight increases in these indices in the last two years.
• AD 3K (extending from the Strait of Belle Isle to Bonavista Bay): The exploitable biomass indices increased to high levels in recent years, however declined significantly over the last two years.
• AD 3LNO (which has been combined to now included both 3L Inshore and 3LNO Offshore and which extends from Bonavista Bay to St. Mary’s Bay): The exploitable biomass indices have increased in recent years but remained near similar levels from 2022 to 2023.
• AD 3Ps (extends along south coast from Placentia Bay to around Burgeo): The exploitable biomass indices have increased to high levels in recent years but remained near similar levels from 2022 to 2023.
• AD 4R3PN (includes southwestern Newfoundland and most of the west coast): The exploitable biomass index has increased in recent years but remained near a similar level from 2022 to 2023.