Stock status of American lobster (Homarus americanus) in lobster fishing areas 27-32 for 2022

Abstract

The scientific basis for assessing the status of American Lobster (Homarus americanus) in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 27–33 was examined at a framework meeting in January 2018, followed by an assessment of the status of the Lobster resources in LFAs 27–32 in February 2019. Annual updates have occurred since 2020. This update applies a suite of indicators from the 2018 framework (Cook et al. 2020) to the stock status up to the end of the 2022 fishing season, wherever possible. Primary stock-status indicators for Lobster in LFAs 27–32 meet the intent of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) precautionary approach and allow for the evaluation of stock status. This Science Response Report results from the Regional Peer Review of January 24, 2023 on the Stock Status update for Lobster Fishing Areas 27-32. This update contains information to the end of the commercial fishing seasons in 2022. Outside of commercial fishing seasons, rights-based fisheries were prosecuted by Indigenous fishers in some LFAs. These landings are not included in annual landings reported herein. Any removals from treaty-based fisheries would not be accounted for in the stock status indicators presented herein.