Snow crab fishermen in the Gulf of St. Lawrence are set to enjoy another profitable year, albeit down from the record catches of 2017.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says that snow crab catches so far for 2018 are valued at $148 million as of May 30, compared to just $112 million up to the same point in 2016.
Catches for 2017 were valued at $221 million. Last year’s total allowable catch was a record-breaking 40,000 tonnes. This year it is 22,000 tonnes, compared to 2016’s 20,000 tonnes.
At time of writing, snow crab fishing areas currently closed in the Gulf are (GU37 (portion), GU38 (portion), GU39 (portion), GU40 (portion), GV37, GV38, GV39, GV40 (portion) and GW37). The GW38, GW39, GW40, GX38, GX39 and GX40 zones have been closed since May 20.
Snow crab fishery areas to be closed: GW41 et GX41. Due to strong winds, these closures will take effect on May 31, 2018 at 4 p.m. Atlantic Time or 72 hours after the closure announcement.
All fishing gear must be removed before this time, and these areas will be closed for 15 days. Any such closures can extend beyond 15 days if whales remain in any areas.
Those areas already closed to fishing remain shut until further notice.
The dynamic closure area implemented in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, including the closures that will take effect on May 31, is approximately 3,500 square kilometres. The size of the static closure area is 6,490 square kilometres.
