Revue de la pêche au crabe des neiges (Chionoecetes opilio) dans le sud du golfe du Saint-Laurent (zones 12, 12E, 12F et 19) en 2021

Abstract

The review of the 2021 snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL; Areas 12, 12E, 12 F and 19) is presented. Total landings in the sGSL in 2021 were 24,479 t out of a revised quota of 24,125 t. The allowable quota in the notice to harvesters was 23,810 t. For Area 12 harvesters, landings were 20,842 t (revised quota of 20,402 t). The mean catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) from logbooks increased in 2021 (57.4 kg per trap hauled (kg/th)) compared to 2020 (44.1 kg/th). In Areas 12E and 12F, landings were 296 t (revised quota of 288 t) and 1,100 t (revised quota of 1,192 t), respectively. Due to North Atlantic Right whale closures in Areas 12E and F, approximately 24.6% (73 t) and 46.2% (508 t) of the quota allocations in these Areas respectively, were fished in Area 12. In Area 12E, the mean CPUE increased in 2021 (55.7 kg/th) compared to 2020 (45.9 kg/th). In Area 12F, the mean CPUE remained high in 2021 at 59.1 kg/th, an increase compared to 2020 (45.2 kg/th). In Area 19, landings reached 2,241 t (revised quota of 2,244 t). The mean CPUE remained high in 2021 at 121.0 kg/th, an increase from 2020 (101.7 kg/th).