The 2021 assessment of the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) stock in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (areas 12, 12E, 12F and 19) / T. Surette and J. Chassé.: Fs70-5/2022-053E-PDF

"Stock status of southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL) snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, in 2021 is in the healthy zone based on the defined reference points for this stock, with an a commercially exploitable biomass of 80,950 t projected for 2022. The exploitation rate of the 2021 fishery was estimated at 31.5%, a relatively low value stemming from a 15% reduction in commercial biomass estimates made in response to concerns of over-estimation of stock indices during the 2019 and 2020 surveys. Fishery recruitment biomass is estimated at 62,473 t, while residual biomass was estimated at 19,144 t. Based on the harvest control rule, the commercial stock biomass index corresponds to a target exploitation rate of 40.96% resulting in a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 33,163 t for the 2022 fishery. Based on this catch option, a risk analysis indicates that there is a very low likelihood that the residual stock biomass would be below the limit reference point and a very high likelihood that the 2022 commercial stock biomass would be above the upper stock reference point. Mature female abundance remains high, though at lower levels than those observed in 2019 and 2020 and the population recruitment index is very high"--Abstract, page iv.

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Publication information
Department/Agency Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, issuing body.
Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Gulf Region, issuing body.
Title The 2021 assessment of the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) stock in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (areas 12, 12E, 12F and 19) / T. Surette and J. Chassé.
Series title Research document, 1919-5044 ; 2022/053
Publication type Series - View Master Record
Language [English]
Other language editions [French]
Format Electronic
Electronic document
Note(s) Issued also in French under title: Évaluation du stock de crabe des neiges (Chionoecetes opilio) dans le sud du golfe du Saint-Laurent (zones 12, 12E, 12F, et 19) en 2021.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 13-14).
Publishing information Ottawa ON : Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), August 2022.
©2022
Author / Contributor Surette, T. J., author.
Description 1 online resource (iv, 37 pages) : illustrations (some colour), colour maps.
ISBN 9780660446264
Catalogue number
  • Fs70-5/2022-053E-PDF
Subject terms Snow crab -- Saint Lawrence, Gulf of.
Snow crab fisheries -- Saint Lawrence, Gulf of.
Fish stock assessment -- Saint Lawrence, Gulf of.
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