Advice on the dimensions of the escape mechanism in American lobster (Homarus americanus) commercialfishing traps in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

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Language of the publication
English
Date
2022
Type
Report
Author(s)
  • Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat
  • Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Gulf Region
Publisher
Center for Science Advice (CSA), Gulf Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Alternative title

Advice on the dimensions of the escape mechanism in American lobster (Homarus americanus) commercial fishing traps in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Science response: lobster trap escape mechanism

Abstract

The escape mechanism on commercial American Lobster (Homarus americanus) fishing traps is a key conservation measure as it allows under-sized Lobsters to exit the trap. This in turn reduces injury and mortality to these Lobsters, both within the traps (e.g., from other Lobsters) and at the surface (e.g., from handling and from predation upon return to the water). In addition, the escape mechanism can allow non-target species [e.g., Rock Crab (Cancer irroratus)] to exit Lobster traps. The minimum required dimensions of the escape mechanism form part of the Lobster management measures and are dependent on the Minimum Legal carapace Size (MLS) as larger Lobsters need larger openings to exit the traps. For example, the 2022 management measures for Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 23, 24, 26A and 26B, provide two options for minimum escape mechanism length, 127 mm and 254 mm, and indicate the corresponding minimum escape mechanism heights required at MLSs of 73 mm to >76 mm and 73 mm to 80 mm, respectively (DFO 2022). As the MLS is now 82.5 mm in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 26B, and may eventually reach 80 mm or above in other LFAs, Fisheries Resource Management requested advice on the height and length of the escape mechanism at larger MLSs. This Science Response Report results from the Regional Peer Review of May 4, 2022 on Advice on the dimensions of the escape mechanism in American lobster (Homarus americanus) commercial fishing traps in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Description

1 online resource (5 pages) : charts

Subject

  • Nature and environment,
  • Water

Pagination

5 pages

Identifiers

Government document number
Fs70-7/2022-031E-PDF
ISBN
9780660443881
ISSN
1919-3769

Report

Report no.
2022/031
Series title
Science Response (Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat)

Citation(s)

DFO. 2022. Advice on the dimensions of the escape mechanism in American lobster (Homarus americanus) commercial fishing traps in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2022/031.

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