As per the press release the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, met with her provincial counterparts from Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to discuss issues affecting the snow crab fishery in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence. The release said that fishing fleets are scheduled to begin their annual snow crab harvest this week. As the crab stock is at a low point the 2010 fishery poses particular challenges. For conservation purposes, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has set the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2010 at 7,700 tonnes. The 63 percent reduction in quota reflects the significant drop in biomass this year as a result of the natural life cycle of the crab in this zone, which sees stocks increase and decrease in cycles of about ten years, the last high peak being observed in 2004.
According to DFO long-term sustainability of the snow crab resource is very important. This reduction in the allowable catch is based on solid science evidence and knowledge gained from previous cycles that indicates conservation of snow crab stocks throughout the low points in their abundance cycle is critical to ensuring subsequent periods of high abundance.
Minister Shea told that the government already instructed to officials to offer the maximum flexibility possible to harvesters under the rules in order to permit them to significantly reduce their operating costs and promote the viability of their fishing enterprises during this difficult period. Minister Shea indicated that the department has already provided these options to the various fleets and is pleased to note that some harvesters have begun to take advantage of them.
Minister Shea has agreed with her provincial counterparts to continue to share information about activities being undertaken within their respective jurisdictions to assist snow crab fleets, processing plant workers and communities and First Nations who are involved in the harvesting and processing of snow crab.
