The results of a recently released study of Newfoundland’s snow crab fishery by Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans have prompted the department to move to a “precautionary approach” toward the fishery.
The six-year study revealed that even as the total number of snow crab declined in recent years, exploitation rates have gone up in some areas.
DFO’s “precautionary approach” designation means if crab numbers are low – and biomass in many areas around the province have declined – the fishery’s total allowable catch will be lowered.
Darrell Mullowney, a DFO researcher involved in the study, told the CBC he was concerned about the state of the crab stock in Newfoundland.
"As a science branch, we are concerned about the state of crab. We are not sure that it can continue to sustain the levels of fishing pressure that have been imposed upon it in recent years, particularly in some of its biggest and most important areas where the majority of the stock lies."
Mullowney said their study used a multi-indicator approach looking at female egg clutches and catch and discard rates to gauge the health of the stock.
One bright spot, according to Mullowney, is Area 3Ps, located off Newfoundland’s southern coast. Between 2014 and 2017, the crab quota in the fishing zone was substantially reduced, reducing pressure on the resource and allowing the stock to improve, Mullowney said. The result was a rise in allowable the 2018 catch from 1,505 metric tons to 1,792 metric tons
"They seem to be a bit of a good news story in the broader pictures in terms of seeing some bounce back, whereas these other areas like 3L in particular seem to be arriving at a place where 3Ps was a few years ago,” Mullowney said. “Just because we're out here saying we're concerned about the status of the stock, doesn't mean it's necessarily game over."
Photo courtesy of FFAW-Unifor Communications
