Snow Crab Management Plan for 2023 Season

Thursday, March 30, 2023

DFO released the management plan for the 2023 snow crab fishery today, highlighting an abundant resource with the announcement of a 8.4% overall increase.

Following years of significant quota decreases, 2J will see some stability this year with a quota rollover. The Union is hopeful that this signals a positive turnaround for the area after several tough years.

As was acknowledged throughout the science advisory process, the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab resource remains very healthy overall. The increase given to 3L Inshore this year is representative of increases given to other fishing areas in 2022 and is reflective of the positive science.

Of note are the fish harvesters who participated on the Precautionary Approach Working Group (PAWG) and ensured protections were put in place for the 3L inshore fleet. Over 100 volunteer hours were spent on this process and though it didn’t happen without resistance, in the end harvesters were heard loud and clear. The 3L Inshore fleets will see an increase this year while a review of the 3LNO Assessment Divison is completed, and we look forward to working closely with the 3L Inshore fleet throughout this process.

Furthermore, and most importantly, none of this would have been possible without the fish harvesters who participate in the Collaborative Post-Season Snow Crab Survey. The science assessment this year was entirely reliant upon the results of this work and its importance cannot be overstated. We look forward to working with DFO to ensure its continued success into the future as well as using it as a model for new survey collaborative opportunities.

Click here for a timeline of events explaining the Precautionary Approach process.

Click here to read the full management plan.