Crab Pot Design

Over the last several years, snow crab stocks around many parts of Newfoundland and Labrador have declined in abundance.  In an effort to reverse this trend, the FFAW has partnered with DFO, DFA, and the Marine Institute to design a pot that reduces the catchability of undersized and soft-shelled crab thereby reducing the mortality of crab that are caught and discarded in the fishery.

Phase I of the study was undertaken to improve the size-selectivity of the Japanese-style conical pot used in the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab fishery.  Phase II of the study focused on fishing trials of the two most promising designs and completion of a report outlining the findings of the investigation.