SNOW CRAB
Snow crab live in the North Atlantic as far north as west Greenland. In Labrador, Snow crab are at their northern range in Nunatsiavut waters. Snow crab supports an important commercial fishery where only the males are harvested. Crabs must be sufficiently past the softshell stage after molting to be valuable in the fishery. After harvesting in traps, Snow crab are kept alive until processed. Snow crab is preyed upon by a multitude of species, including groundfish, which is currently increasing in abundance. In northern Labrador, Snow crab is managed using annual DFO multispecies trawl data and results from TJFB Post-season Trap Survey.
Inuttitut Name
Putjotik
Average Weight
0.5-1.35
Kg
Our work with Snow Crab
The TJFB, in partnership with shellfish scientists at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), has undertaken a Collaborative Post-Season Trap Survey for Snow Crab in NAFO Division 2H and 2J North since 2013. The twenty stations on a grid system are sampled with a string of eleven pots, nine with commercial mesh size and two fitted with a finer mesh to enable the collection of undersized males, juveniles, and females. Data from undersized males is used to extrapolate recruitment prospects and data from female crab are used to estimate larval production. Survey results continue to inform TJFB policy advice and DFO stock assessments.
_JPG.jpg)
Torngat Caribou
.png)
Polar Bear
.png)
Moose
Arctic Char
Salmon
Greenland Halibut
Snow Crab
Shrimp