2013 Snow Crab Season2013 Snow Crab SeasonCFA 24CFA 24

DFO ScienceDFO Science

LandingsLandingsArea Year Landings (t) Mean lbs/trap Trap Hauls

  N-ENS 2011 535 244 4822

2012 603 259 5126

2013 783 234 7377

CFA 23 2011 6575 252 57514

  2012 6326 256 54393

2013 6146 251 53983

CFA 24 2011 5560 210 58228

2012 5381 181 65622

  2013 5163 208 54723

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

02

04

06

08

01

00

12

01

40

Annual Catch Rates

Year

Ca

tch

Ra

te (

kg/ t

rap

)

CFA 23CFA 244XN-ENS

CFA 23CFA 244XN-ENS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

2013 CFA 24 Landings

Week of Season

Cu

mu

lativ

e L

an

din

gs

(mt)

01

00

02

00

03

00

04

00

05

00

06

00

0

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

02

04

06

08

01

00

Spring Landings

Year

Pe

rce

nt o

f To

tal

cfa23cfa24north

cfa23cfa24north

-62 -61.5 -61 -60.5 -60 -59.5

4444

.545

45.5

Longitude

Lat

itu

de

Reported Fishing Positions

20122013

-62 -61.5 -61 -60.5 -60 -59.5

4444

.545

45.5

Longitude

Lat

itu

de

Spring Fishing Positions

20122013

-62 -61.5 -61 -60.5 -60 -59.5

4444

.545

45.5

Longitude

Lat

itu

de

Summer Fishing Positions

20122013

Soft / White CrabSoft / White Crab• Lowest levels on record in S-ENSLowest levels on record in S-ENS

• Best Handling Practices:Best Handling Practices:– Avoid dropping these crab from heights (out of Avoid dropping these crab from heights (out of

trap or back into water)trap or back into water)– Lower air exposure time- summer Lower air exposure time- summer

temperatures very hard on crab who live at 0-temperatures very hard on crab who live at 0-44ºCºC

– Don’t hold by legs- these crab often die after Don’t hold by legs- these crab often die after losing a leg losing a leg

– Think compound interest- every white crab that Think compound interest- every white crab that survives can mate and then enter fisherysurvives can mate and then enter fishery

Observer Observer DataData

AreaLandings

(t) Observed (t)% Landings

Observed Traps Sampled Crab Sampled

N-ENS 793 30.7 3.8 (6.5) 52 1553

S-ENS 11309 471 4.2 (9.1) 4211 19224

CFA 23 6146 243 4(9.4) 1838 8112

CFA 24 5163 228 4.4(8.8) 2373 11112

Observer DataObserver Data

53 62 71 80 89 98 107 119 131 143 155 167

CC1 ( 0.2 %)CC2 ( 3.3 %)CC3 ( 93.9 %)CC4 ( 2.5 %)CC5 ( 0 %)

2013 Size Frequency Distribution in S-ENS

Carapace Width in mm

Nu

mb

er

of C

rab

05

00

10

00

15

00

n= 19224

53 62 71 80 89 98 107 119 131 143 155 167

CC1 ( 0.3 %)CC2 ( 10.2 %)CC3 ( 85.1 %)CC4 ( 4.3 %)CC5 ( 0.1 %)

2012 Size Frequency Distribution in S-ENS

Carapace Width in mm

Nu

mb

er

of C

rab

01

00

02

00

03

00

04

00

05

00

0

n= 56946

Observer DataObserver Data

53 62 71 80 89 98 107 119 131 143 155 167

CC1 ( 0.2 %)CC2 ( 2.1 %)CC3 ( 94.7 %)CC4 ( 3 %)CC5 ( 0 %)

2013 Spring S-ENS

Carapace Width in mm

Nu

mb

er

of C

rab

02

00

40

06

00

80

01

00

01

20

0

n= 13837

53 62 71 80 89 98 107 119 131 143 155 167

CC1 ( 0.3 %)CC2 ( 6.4 %)CC3 ( 92 %)CC4 ( 1.3 %)CC5 ( 0 %)

2013 Summer S-ENS

Carapace Width in mm

Nu

mb

er

of C

rab

01

00

20

03

00

40

05

00

n= 5387

Soft Shell CatchesSoft Shell Catches

AreaSoft Crab

Observed (t)Est. Soft Crab

Discard (t)% Quota

Discarded Soft

N-ENS 1.02 26.83.4%

(8.9 in 2012)

CFA 23 3.91 97.81.6%

(5.3 in 2012)

CFA 24 4.43 100.7 2%(7.7 in 2012)

Percent Soft Shell by Month

Month

Pe

rce

nt S

oft

05

10152025

2 4 6 8 10

20094X

20104X

2 4 6 8 10

20114X

20124X

2 4 6 8 10

20134X

2009CFA 23

2010CFA 23

2011CFA 23

2012CFA 23

0510152025

2013CFA 23

05

10152025

2009CFA 24

2010CFA 24

2011CFA 24

2012CFA 24

2013CFA 24

2009North

2 4 6 8 10

2010North

2011North

2 4 6 8 10

2012North

0510152025

2013North

SurveySurvey

• Survey vessel (F/V Gentle Lady) sunk in Survey vessel (F/V Gentle Lady) sunk in December. All crew safe.December. All crew safe.

• No survey gear lost.No survey gear lost.

• Have one year remaining in current contract Have one year remaining in current contract with W.T. Grover Fisheries. with W.T. Grover Fisheries. – Great track record with DFO scienceGreat track record with DFO science– Intend to continue providing same high level of Intend to continue providing same high level of

service for snow crab surveyservice for snow crab survey

• Hoping to use another vessel from same Hoping to use another vessel from same company (very similar to past survey vessel)company (very similar to past survey vessel)

• Same captain and crew Same captain and crew

• Contingent on DFO Contracting / legalContingent on DFO Contracting / legal

Assessment and FundingAssessment and Funding

• Generally positive feedback about science Generally positive feedback about science funding approach in 2013 from industryfunding approach in 2013 from industry– Double license for each licence rather complicatedDouble license for each licence rather complicated– All individuals in ENS paid (working with 4X now)All individuals in ENS paid (working with 4X now)

• DFO Ottawa proposing moving to a new system in DFO Ottawa proposing moving to a new system in future based on last year.future based on last year.

• Current indications are that 2014 will use a near Current indications are that 2014 will use a near identical approach for 2014identical approach for 2014– ““quota off top” of TACquota off top” of TAC– Funds per license expected to be very close to last yearFunds per license expected to be very close to last year– Hoping to move to a multi=year approach but doubtful Hoping to move to a multi=year approach but doubtful

for 2014for 2014