The 2021 assessment of the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) stock in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Areas 12, 12E, 12F and 19)

Abstract

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.