Profile updated on 20 September 2021
SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)
Homarus americanus
SPECIES NAME(s)
American lobster
COMMON NAMES
Atlantic lobster, American lobster, Maine lobster
The stock structure of American lobster (Homarus americanus) is uncertain across the Gulf of Maine, the Bay of Fundy, Georges Bank, and eastern Canada (ASMFC 2020) given their pelagic larval stage, inshore and offshore migrations, and lack of genetic differentiation (Kenchington et al. 2009). DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) Canada manages the lobster stock in Eastern Canada as a series of Lobster Fishing areas (LFAs) noting that it is likely stock mixing among these LFAs (DFO 2021). DFO groups LFAs 27-32 into the SE Cape Breton, Chedabucto Bay, and Eastern shore, component for assessment purposes while maintaining management by individual LFAs.
In this profile we examine the LFAs in the Bay of Fundy (27-32) as an aggregated assessment group, with each of the individual LFAs as a management unit complete with landings, catch per unit effort information, exploitation, reference points, stock/LFA status, and management measures.
Management Quality:
≥ 6
≥ 8
≥ 8