Snow Crab in West Greenland - Marine Institute

Snow Crab in West Greenland
(NAFO Zone 1)
Fisheries Science Services
The fisheries agreement between the European
Community and the Government of Denmark and the
local government of Greenland expired on 31/12/06. A
new Fisheries Partnership Agreement was concluded in
June 2007 and covers the period 1/1/07 to 31/12/12 with
a financial contribution of €15,847,244. The fisheries
agreement allows vessels from Germany, Denmark, UK,
Spain, Portugal and Ireland, which have allocated quota,
to fish in Greenland waters for cod, redfish, Greenland
halibut, shrimp, Atlantic halibut, capelin and snow crab.
In 2007, Ireland’s share of the 500 tonnes EU snow crab
TAC was 62 t. This is Irelands first quota in the NAFO
area. No Irish vessels have yet participated in the fishery.
FSS ADVICE
Stock Assessments were conducted in 2007 and
scientific advice was provided by the Greenland
Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) for 2007.
The GINR recommended catches for 2007 are the
same as what was recommended in 2006. FSS has
no further information from GINR in relation to
2008.
Given the state of the stock and the lack of data
from some areas, FSS considers that 2008
catches should not be increased and area closures
should remain. FSS would point out that this advice
will not rebuild the stock, but only halt the
decline.
FSS agrees with GINR that a seasonal fishery
from April to July be established in all management
areas to reduce discards and mortality on
soft shelled crabs and ensure the greatest potential
for recruitment to the stock. A seasonal fishery
will also promote the most optimal and sustainable
utilization of the crab resource.
If required, the scientific advice will be reviewed
when more up to date information becomes available
from GINR in March 2008.
OVERVIEW
Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio), also referred to as Queen
crab, are found throughout the North Pacific and in the
North West Atlantic from Greenland to the Gulf of
Maine. They prefer deep, cold water conditions and are
found on sandy seafloors at depths between 350 and
1,500 meters. Snow crab are fecund, but relatively late
to mature. It takes 5 or 6 years for juveniles to grow to
harvestable size. Their maximum lifespan is about 12-13
years. While harvest is limited to large males, mortality
from capture stress leads to the death of up to 25% of all
crabs released. Major predators of snow crab include
groundfish, seals and other snow crab. Natural variability
in recruitment , as well as increasing exploitation have
lead to a wide fluctuation in Alaska’s and Canada’s
landings. Snow crab has become very important to the
fishing economy of eastern Canada as cod and other
groundfish have declined. The fishery for snow crab is
currently the third largest in Greenland waters
(economically). The fishery takes place in areas 62-70 0 N.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
There are no management objectives for the snow crab
resource in West Greenland, however from 2004, the
main objective of recommendations from GNIR has been
to stop the decreasing biomass of the crab resource in the
different management areas.
Greenland, a protectorate of the kingdom of Denmark,
maintains a relatively small snow crab fishery on the west
coast of the landmass. Snow crab are patchily
distributed and commercially exploited along the coast
and within the fjords of west Greenland . They are
managed by quotas and assessed within the inshore and
offshore of 6 Management units (Upernavik;
Uummannaqw- Disko Bay; Sisimuit; Maniitsoq-Kangaamiut;
Nuuk-paamiut and Narsaq-Qaqortoq).
Snow crab are fished using large metal framed traps,
baited with chopped herring. Most of Greenland's crab
fishing fleet is small, local vessels and the fishery was
established by the Danes in the late 1960’s. Greenland’s
snow crab fishery is managed by Denmark who develop
management plans, issue commercial fishing licences,
inspect commercial landings and administer the Danish
Fishing fleet. Management measures in place include
permit requirements, quotas, gear limitations, area
closures, sex and size restrictions.
358 Snow Crab in West Greenland

STATE OF THE STOCK
Despite a recent halt in the decline of the crab resource
in many areas, there are few indications that the
exploitable biomass will improve in the short term. The
advice from GINR is not expected to improve the stock,
but only stop the continued decline. If a rebuilding of the
stock to achieve higher exploitable biomass and better
catches is the objective, then the recommended catch in
2008 should be further reduced to allow the stock to
grow.
Source of Information
Carl, J. and Burmeister A. (2007)
Assessment of Snow Crab in West Greenland.
Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
CPUE has declined and despite a recent halt to the decline
in the majority of fisheries, the snow crab biomass was
considered to be at low levels and recruitment indices
from biological surveys indicate poor recruitment is
expected in the near future.
There are further concerns about the state of the
resource. In all areas surveyed, the commercial stock is
made up of a large proportion of soft and new shell crabs.
This suggests that the fishing pressure is high and a large
percentage of mature hard shell crabs are being removed.
The fishery at present is highly dependent on new
recruits , which make it strongly dependent on the
previous years recruitment and vulnerable to fluctuations
in recruitment from year to year. Furthermore there is a
large mortality of soft shelled crabs as a result of
discarding.
Fig. 1. Map of West Greenland outlining the 6 management and
assessment areas for the snow crab fishery.
2007 summary of catch recommendations for the snow crab fishery in 2007 from GINR. Total catches for 2005 are
also given. FSS recommends that based on available information, catches in 2008 should remain the same as for 2007.
Management Area Recommended Catch
Inshore 2007
Recommended Catch
Inshore 2007
Catch (Tonnes)
Inshore 2005
Catch (Tonnes)
Offshore 2005
Disko Bay 1,800 130 1,364 135
Sisimiut 350 Closure Continue 790 335
Maniitsoq No advice Closure Continue 59 14
Nuuk-Paamiut 700 1,600 256 2,039
Total Recommended
Catch 2,850 1,730 2,469 2,523
359 Snow Crab in West Greenland