Various crab species are adapted to a wide range of habitats off the east coast. Despite their variety and abundance, most species of crab have remained largely underutilized. Currently, the snow crab is the sole, fully exploited crab species constituting a major resource in terms of landings and value.

Crab species appear more widely harvested in other parts of the world; even the small green crab was a favorite a century ago and is still consumed in Spain. The difficulty in establishing a stand alone rock crab fishery is the cost associated with developing processing techniques and marketing routes for the crab. However, with traditional fisheries declining, fishers are being encouraged to diversify and start pilot fisheries directed exclusively for crab.

Where there has been a market, lobster fishers have been harvesting rock crab bycatches for decades, although landings hardly exceeded 230t prior to 1973. Despite effective crab traps having been developed to exclude lobster bycatch, the relatively small size of rock crab and its low meat yield and high processing costs have so far hindered development of a wide-spread directed fishery.

There have been intermittent small landings of Jonah crab bycatches by lobster fishers in the Bay of Fundy and off Southern Nova Scotia since the mid 1960s. A directed Jonah crab fishery has been in place, in one form or another, since 1983. The directed fishery has produced high catch rates. Processing difficulties have been largely overcome. The commercial forecast for the Jonah crab is very promising.

II. Overview of the Fishery

The Eastern Nova Scotia commercial rock crab fishery began in 1993 when one exploratory licence was issued. There have been two public draws for additional licences, one in 1994 and another in 1996, bringing the total number of inshore rock and Jonah crab licences to 28. Of these, 16 are designated as rock crab licences only in LFA 27, and the remaining 12 are for rock or rock and Jonah crab in LFAs 29 to 32. The LFA 27 rock crab fishery has evolved seperately from the rock and Jonah crab fisheries in LFAs 29 to 32 and has only been combined in the same Management Plan this year. The fishers in the latter group have until 1999 to declare a species designation. In addition, several First Nations have been issued communal rock crab exploratory licences. Native harvesters participate as full partners in the advisory and harvesting processes.

DFO, in partnership, with the Eastern Nova Scotia Developing Species Advisory Board (DSAB) review the circumstances surrounding inactive exploratory licences on an individual case basis and make recommendations on licence renewal.

III. Science

Since the early 1960s, fisheries biologists from federal and provincial governments have been carrying out crab research. The work has been conducted for a variety of purposes: to estimate stock abundance and size composition; growth rate; reproductive pattern; movement; and exploitation rate.

The scientific base associated with rock crab is not extensive. In order to provide DFO management and fishers with detailed information, fishers are being requested to assist science personnel in recording landing information.

DFO is reluctant to impose the recording of data on fishers as a condition of licence. Concern was expressed that imposition of such a measure could result in questionable data accuracy.

The Committee recommendation is for volunteers to come forward and assist science personnel. Dr. Tremblay and Mr. Michael Eagles will contact fishers individually to move this initiative forward.

IV. Management Measures

4.1 Eastern Nova Scotia Management Measures

The following table indicates management measures for the rock and Jonah crab fisheries in Eastern Nova Scotia for the 1998 Management Plan.

Table 1: Summary of Rock and Jonah crab exploratory fishery management measures for Eastern Nova Scotia, 1998

Management Measure	LFA 27	LFA 29	LFA 31A, 31B, 32
Licence Designation	Rock only	Rock only	Rock and Jonah*
Season	Aug. 15 - Dec. 31	Jan. 1 - 1 wk < lobster season July 1 - Dec. 31	Jan. 1 - 1 wk < lobster season July 1 - Dec. 31
Carapace Size	102 mm	102 mm	Rock: 102mm Jonah: 130 mm
Trap limit	150	150	150
Trap design	Conicals or modified lobster - (minimum 2 escape gaps < 76mm from floor and side panels minimum 3”X5” with degradable material) rectangular opening < 1 7/8” wide, escape gaps 2 1/2” wide	Conicals or modified lobster - (minimum 2 escape gaps <76mm from floor and side panels minimum 3”X5” with degradable material) rectangular opening < 1 7/8” wide, escape gaps 2 1/2” wide	Conicals or modified lobster (minimum 2 escape gaps <76mm from floor and side panels minimum 3”X5” with degradable material) Rock: rectangular opening < 1 7/8” wide, escape gaps 2 1/2 ” wide Jonah: rectangular opening <3” wide, escape gaps 3 1/2” wide
DMP	100% hail, + 20% dockside monitoring or 100% if floating car storage	100% hail, + 20% dockside monitoring or 100% if floating car storage	100% hail, + 20% dockside monitoring or 100% if floating car storage
Participation Requirement	5000 lbs landed/sold and 15 days of fishing	1000 lbs landed/sold and 10 days fishing	1000 lbs landed/sold and 10 days fishing

*Fishers will have until 1999 to declare species designation.

4.2 Trap Design

Traps shall be of the following design:

• Conicals or modified lobster traps (top entry preferred but not required in 1998); all traps to include at least two, and preferably three or four, lobster escape gaps to be located no higher that 76mm from the floor of the trap if a “parlor” type trap is used, i.e. a trap with two compartments, the escape gap or gaps must be in the “parlor”; all traps to include side panels of at least 3" X 5" made of or held on by degradable materials such as sisal, hemp or corrodable metal which will release the panel and help to prevent “ghost fishing” of lost traps;

• When directing for rock crab: trap entrance should be rectangular with opening no more than 1 ⁷/₈" wide, with no limit on the length of this opening. Escape gaps shall be 63.5mm (2 ¹/₂ ") in diameter. Rectangular opening requirement exempt for conical traps.

• When directing for Jonah crab: unless fishing with conicals, trap entrance should be rectangular with opening no more than 3" wide with no limit on the length of this opening. Lobster escape gaps shall be 91mm (3 ¹/₂ ").

4.3 Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP)

Under this plan, all exploratory licence holders must participate in an approved monitoring and reporting program at their own expense. For 1998, there will be 20% full DMP coverage or 100% if a floating car method of storage is used and 100% data entry of fishing log data. Dockside monitoring and data entry to be provided at licence holders´ expense by an approved dockside monitoring company. A new crab monitoring document has been designed for the 1998 season, booklets of which can be obtained from DFO (Appendix 5). For those trips that do not require an observer at dockside, fishers will be required to supply copies of all documents within 72 hours after the offloading of the crab. Copies of monitoring documents should be maintained on board the vessel for a period of one year after the end of the fishing year for verification purposes.

Licence holders may be requested to carry, at their own expense, an at-sea monitor to collect data relevant to the fishery.

4.4 Licence Distribution

The licences are distributed along the following geographic lines as indicated in the following table.

Table 2: Licence distribution in LFA 27

Rock Crab LFA 27
Zone	Location in LFA 27	Number of Licences
Zone 1	Northern Portion	4
Zone 2	Central Portion	5
Zone 3	Western Portion	7
Total		16

Further information on the distribution of licence holders within the LFA 27 harvesting zones is included in Appendix 1.

Licence distribution for rock and Jonah crab are indicated in the following table.

Table 3: Licence distribution for rock and Jonah crab

Rock and Jonah Crab
LFA Number	Number of Licences
LFA 29	3*
LFA # 31A	2
LFA # 31B	3
LFA # 32	4
Total	12

*LFA 29 licences are already designated for rock crab. Remaining licence holders must declare a species designation by 1999.

4.5 Participation Requirements

In order to ensure that a minimum of exploration activity is conducted in each of these fisheries on an annual basis, minimum participation requirements have been set in consultation with the respective ad hoc advisory groups. The minimum requirements are summarized in Table 1. If these requirements are not met, the matter is tabled before the Developing Species Advisory Board for a recommendation on redistribution of the inactive licence. Likewise, if other terms and conditions of the licence are not met (such as DMP and reporting requirements) a similar review process occurs. Licences are redistributed based on an eligibility list or a public draw in the absence of a list.

4.6 Gear Conflict Resolution

A sub-working group has been formed and is headed by two fishers: Mr. Colin Dandy, scallop fisher and Mr. Richard MacPhee, rock crab fisher.

DFO enforcement and management staff will participate in discussions if needed. All stake holders are confident this issue will be resolved in time for the 1998 season opening. A signed agreement was reached between the two fleets to avoid a gear conflict.

V. Advisory Process

An ad hoc advisory group in each of LFA27 and LFAs 29-32, respectively, consisting of the licence holders, a Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture representative, representatives from the Mi´Kmaq Fish and Wildlife Commission and DFO representatives meet on a yearly basis. Progress and expansion in these two fisheries is also closely followed by the Eastern Nova Scotia Developing Species Advisory Board (ENS-DSAB). Membership lists of the respective ad hoc advisory groups are included in Appendix 2 (LFA 27) and Appendix 3 (LFAs 29-32).

Appendix 1

Harvesting Zones LFA 27

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has asked fishers to recognize the exploratory nature of this fishery and to truly explore and discover new pockets of rock crab. To that end, exploratory licences are validated along the following geographic parameters:

Zone #1 - Northern - Bay St. Lawrence to Path End Victoria County

David Podavonich

Michael Buffett

Charles R. Smith

Russell Hussey

Zone #2 - Central - Path End Victoria County to Pt. Edward Cape Breton County

William Mitchell

Jeff Brownstein

Donald F. MacDermid

Richard MacPhee

Daniel Fraser

Zone #3 - Western - Pt. Edward Cape Breton County to Belfry Lake Monument

Darryl Boone

Gerard Thomas

Paul Fraser

George P. Sherwood

Philip Nash

Kevin Spencer

Cyril Wadden

Appendix 2

LFA 27 Rock Crab Ad Hoc Advisory Committee

Membership List

Name	Organization	Location
DFO
Alex MacIsaac John Tremblay Michael Eagles Odette Murphy R.C. Thompson	Area Office Science Science Resource Management Area Office	Sydney, NS Halifax, NS Halifax, NS Halifax, NS Sydney, NS

*Native Representatives*
John Prosper	Mi´Kmaq Fish and Wildlife Comm.
Chris Milley	Mi´Kmaq Fish and Wildlife Comm.
*Province*
Greg Roach	NS Dept. Fisheries & Aquaculture	Halifax, NS


*Fishers/Buyers*
William Mitchell	Fisher
Darryl Boone	Fisher
Gerard Thomas	Fisher
Paul Fraser	Fisher
George Sherwood	Fisher
Philip Nash	Fisher
Kevin Spence	Fisher
Jeff Brownstein	Fisher
Donald F. MacDermid	Fisher
Richard MacPhee	Fisher
Daniel Fraser	Fisher
Cyril Wadden	Fisher
Michael Buffett	Fisher
Charles R. Smith	Fisher
Russell W. Hussey	Fisher
David Podanovitch	Fisher
Macabee Fisheries	Buyer

Appendix 3

LFA 29, 31A, 31B and 32

Rock/Jonah Crab Ad Hoc Advisory Committee

Membership List

Name	Organization	Location

DFO
Alex MacIsaac Michael Eagles Odette Murphy R.C. Thompson	Area Office Science Resource Management Area Office	Sydney, NS Halifax, NS Halifax, NS Sydney, NS

*First Nations Representatives*
John Prosper	Mi´Kmaq Fish and Wildlife Comm.
Chris Milley	Mi´Kmaq Fish and Wildlife Comm.
*Province*
Greg Roach	NS Dept. Fisheries & Aquaculture	Halifax, NS

*Fishers/Buyers*
Neil Grant	Fisher
Ervin Touesnard	Fisher
William Burkey	Fisher
William Bond	Fisher
Clyde E. Lumsden	Fisher
Ronald Hebb	Fisher
Frank C. Manthorne	Fisher
Barry Gerrard	Fisher
Michael P. Belanger	Fisher
Brenton Laybolt	Fisher
Michael J. Richardson	Fisher
Douglas Mailman	Fisher

Appendix 4

Map Showing Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs ) 27, 28

lobster fishing areas

Appendix 4 (cont´d)

Map Showing LFAs 29, 31A, 31B and 32

Appendix 5

SAMPLE

1998

EXPLORATORY LICENCE

ROCK CRAB (CANCER IRRORATUS)

EASTERN NOVA SCOTIA

LICENCE NUMBER- ___________________ FEE 30.00

Pursuant to Section 7. (1) of the Fisheries Act, this license is issued to ____________

______________________________________ to fish for Rock Crab (Cancer irroratus) subject to the following conditions:

1. That the vessel used for this license shall be the ___________________________

__________________________________ , vessel registration number ______ _____________________________ , and shall be operated by _______________

_______________________________________ ONLY.

2. That this licence is valid during the period beginning _______________ and ending December 31, 1998.

3. That this licence is valid for Lobster Fishing Area ONLY.

4. Fishing shall be conducted during the closed lobster season in the Lobster Fishing Area as noted in item 3 above, allowing for a seven day period starting at the end of the season for the season noted in item 3 and at the beginning of the lobster season as noted in item 3 during which time no crab gear shall be in the water in pursuit of this fishery.

5. Only male crabs shall be retained. While fishing under this license you are only permitted to retain Rock Crab larger than 102mm.

6. You are not permitted a bycatch of any other crab species. You are required to forthwith return all other species of fish caught to the water to the place from which it was taken; and where it is alive, in a manner that causes it the least harm.

7. When using conical traps there must be a minimum of two circular escape gaps at least 79mm(3.125”) in diameter, situated no more than 76mm(3”) from the bottom of the trap.

8. You will be allowed to fish 150 traps. The traps shall be of the following design:

Conicals or modified lobster traps: all traps to include at least two and preferably three or four lobster escape gaps to be located no higher than 76 mm from the floor of the trap if a “parlour” type trap is used, i.e. a trap with two compartments, the escape gaps must be in the “parlour”; all traps include side panels of at least 3” x 5” made of or held on by degradable materials such as sisal, hemp, or corrodible metal which will release the panel and help to prevent “ghost-fishing” of lost traps;

When directing for Rock Crab; Trap entrance should be rectangular with opening no more than 1 7/8” wide, with no limit on the length of this opening. Escape gaps shall be 63.5 mm (2 1/2”) in diameter. Rectangular opening requirement exempt for conical traps.

9. That all traps are tagged with tags issued for the purposes of this fishery by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The following tags are valid from the date of issue until December 31, 1998.

tag# to tag# .

tag# ____________ to tag# _____________.

10. You are required to hail to a Dockside Monitoring Company that has been approved by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans at least one (1) hour prior to returning to that port. This hail must include the vessel name; the Captain´s name; the fishing vessel registration number; the crab licence number; the page number(s) of the Crab Monitoring Document(Crab 1997-01) that were used during the fishing trip, the round weight of crabs in pounds on board the vessel; the area where the fish was taken; the date; the local time (using the 24 hour system); the place where you will land (offload) the fish; the buyer of the fish; and the method of storing the crabs. You are not permitted to offload your vessel prior to the time stated in your hail.

You will be issued a confirmation number each time you hail by the Dockside Monitoring Company confirming that your hail has been received. This number is to be entered on the Crab Monitoring Document (Crab 1997-01).

11. You may be required to have the weight and species of fish landed from your vessel verified by an Observer(dockside). The master of the vessel is required to provide access to the vessel and the fishing records to the assigned Observer (dockside). For the purpose of this licence conditions, an Observer (dockside) is a person designated as an Observer by the Regional Director-General for the Maritimes Region and who has been appointed to monitor the landing of fish and to verify the weight and species of fish caught and retained.

12. If you are required to have the weight and species of fish landed from your vessel verified by an Observer (dockside) you are not permitted to land (offload) any fish or portions thereof from your vessel unless all of the following conditions are adhered to:

• the observer(dockside) is present onboard the vessel to check the CrabMonitoring Document (Crab 1997-01) and verify the fish in the vessel prior to offloading;

• the weight and species of the catch must be verified by an Observer(s) (dockside);

• all fish landed must be weighed on an accurate scale certified by Measurement Canada of Industry Canada;

• you are required to ensure that the Observer(s) (dockside) is able to maintain visual continuity of the fish being removed from the vessel at the dockside point of landing (offloading);

• an accurate weight is supplied to the Dockside Monitoring Company immediately after landing (offloading) the fish from your vessel.

13. Pursuant to section 61 of the Fisheries Act you are required to provide information regarding your fishing activities in the Crab Monitoring Document (Crab 1997-01) available from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. You are required to complete the document in accordance with Schedule I attached, Crabinst 1997-01, Crab Monitoring Document Instructions. You are required to supply the Observer (dockside), when monitored, at the end of each fishing trip with a copy of all documents. For those trips which do not require an Observer (dockside), you must supply the Dockside Monitoring Company with a copy of all documents within 72 hours after the offloading of the fish. You are also required to maintain copies of all documents on board your vessel for a period of one year after the end of the fishing year. You are also required to provide any documents requested by a Fishery Officer immediately upon demand.

14. The licence holder will, on the Department´s request, provide this vessel as a scientific platform from which the Department may collect data relevant to this fishery.

15. That the licence holder will, on the Department´s request, provide a sample or samples of crab for scientific analysis.

16. The licence holder may, at the request of the Department, be required to carry an Observer (at sea) at the expense of the license holder.

17. That acceptance of this licence acknowledges that the data collected about this fishery from this licence may be made public by the Department.

18. I requested and received this licence in English.

19. The licence holder is required to sign this licence.

20. Issuance of this licence implies no commitment by the Minister or the Department to renew this exploratory licence in subsequent years.

21. Failure to comply with any item in this licence, the Fisheries Act or any Regulations made under the Fisheries Act may result in disqualification of any licence in the rock crab fishery for the licence holder at any time in the future in addition to possible prosecution and/or administrative sanction.

For information regarding areas open or closed to fishing, variation orders, and for clarification of any provisions contained in this licence condition contact your local fishery officer. Dockside Monitoring Companies are not agents of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Dockside Monitoring Companies are not authorized, on behalf of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to provide any information to fishers.

____________________________

Signature of Licence Holder

______________________________

Signature of Licence Authority

ISSUED AT DATE _____________

Appendix 5(b)

SAMPLE

1998

EXPLORATORY LICENCE

JONAH CRAB (CANCER BOREALIS)

AND ROCK CRAB (CANCER IRRORATUS)

EASTERN NOVA SCOTIA

LICENCE NUMBER- ___________________ FEE 30.00

Pursuant to Section 7. (1) of the Fisheries Act, this license is issued to ____________

______________________________________ to fish for Jonah Crab(Cancer borealis) and Rock Crab (Cancer irroratus) subject to the following conditions:

1. That the vessel used for this license shall be the ___________________________

__________________________________ , vessel registration number ______ _____________________________ , and shall be operated by _______________

_______________________________________ ONLY.

2. That this licence is valid during the period beginning _______________ and ending December 31, 1998.

3. That this licene is valid for Lobster Fishing Area ONLY.

5. Only male crabs shall be retained. While fishing under this licence you are only permitted to retain Jonah crabs larger than 130mm, and Rock Crab larger than 102mm.

7. When using conical traps there must be a minimum of two circular escape gaps at least 79mm(3.125”) in diameter, situated no more than 76mm(3”) from the bottom of the trap.

8. You will be allowed to fish 150 traps. The traps shall be of the following design:

When directing for Jonah Crab; unless fishing with conicals, trap entrance should be rectangular, with opening no more than 3” wide, with no limit on the length of this opening. Lobster escape gaps shall be 91 mm (3 1/2”) in diameter.

9. That all traps are tagged with tags issued for the purposes of this fishery by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The following tags are valid from the date of issue until December 31, 1998.

tag# to tag# .

tag# ____________ to tag# _____________.

You will be issued a confirmation number each time you hail by the Dockside Monitoring Company confirming that your hail has been received. This number

is to be entered on the Crab Monitoring Document (Crab 1997-01).

• the observer(dockside) is present onboard the vessel to check the Crab Monitoring Document (Crab 1997-01) and verify the fish in the vessel prior to offloading;

• the weight and species of the catch must be verified by an Observer(s) (dockside);

• all fish landed must be weighed on an accurate scale certified by Measurement Canada of Industry Canada;

• you are required to ensure that the Observer(s) (dockside) is able to maintain visual continuity of the fish being removed from the vessel at the dockside point of landing (offloading);

• an accurate weight is supplied to the Dockside Monitoring Company immediately after landing (offloading) the fish from your vessel.

14. The licence holder will, on the Department´s request, provide this vessel as a scientific platform from which the Department may collect data relevant to this fishery.

15. That the licence holder will, on the Department´s request, provide a sample or samples of crab for scientific analysis.

16. The licence holder may, at the request of the Department, be required to carry an Observer (at sea) at the expense of the licence holder.

17. That acceptance of this licence acknowledges that the data collected about this fishery from this license may be made public by the Department.

18. I requested and received this licence in English.

19. The licence holder is required to sign this licence.

20. Issuance of this licence implies no commitment by the Minister or the Department to renew this exploratory licence in subsequent years.

21. Failure to comply with any item in this licence, the Fisheries Act or any Regulations made under the Fisheries Act may result in disqualification of any licence in the rock or jonah crab fishery for the licence holder at any time in the future in addition to possible prosecution and/or administrative sanction.

____________________________

Signature of Licence Holder

______________________________

Signature of Licence Authority

ISSUED AT DATE _____________

Appendix 6

Crab Monitoring Document Plus Instructions

Crab monitering document

SCHEDULE I

Crab Monitoring Document Instructions

1. Fill out all lines in the General Information section, including Crab Licence number, NAFO Area, Vessel Name, Vessel Registration Number, Crab Area or LFA, Date Sailed, Date Landed and Port Landed. Include year in date sailed and landed (example July 28/97 or 28/07/97).

2. Complete Log Information including trap type and size. Use one line per string or group of strings. Combine groups of strings that use the same bait, are within the same depth range and within 5 miles of each other.

Date - as month/day

Location - Dockside monitoring needs latitude and longitude not TD´s. Give a middle location for the string or group of strings. Values should be degrees and minutes example: 4415 / 6405 (decimal minutes are not required).

Depth - In fathoms. A range can be shown. example 89 - 91 fathoms.

# of traps - Total number of traps for the string or group of strings.

Soak time - In days.

Spec. Code - Use the code number from the log information section for crab landed.

Catch - Starting with main species give species code and pounds kept for that string or group of strings.

Comments - Give bait used and identify bycatch. Include any other information you feel is important.

3. Complete hail information including total pounds on board.

4. Complete weighout slip when you sell your crabs. Include date sold, specie of crab, weight in pounds, price per pound, and the buyer´s name.

5. Captain should print their name and sign underneath. If weighed out at dockside by a Dockside monitor, the monitor should print their name and then sign underneath.

Last Modified : 2003-01-31