Unchanged catch levels for crab fishery in West Greenland Published 18.12.2018

In most management areas, the crab stock has been at a low level for several years. The advice from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources is based on biological studies in Disko Bay and at Sisimiut as well as log data from the commercial fishery in all the management areas.

In Disko Bay, the stock is at a low level. Based on data from both biological studies and fishery, it is recommended that the catch level in 2019 does not exceed 400 tonnes.

In the inshore management area at Sisimiut, the stock is no longer declining. It is recommended that the catch level in 2019 does not exceed 300 tonnes, which is unchanged from 2018.

In the offshore area at Sisimiut, the stock of fishable crabs has grown, however, the share of new crabs entering into the fishery in the coming year is low. It therefore remains the recommendation that the area is kept closed to fishery, until the stock of crabs shows signs of significant increase.

In the Nuuk-Paamiut area, the stock is constant. It is recommended that the catch level in 2019 does not exceed 200 tonnes in the inshore area and 1,000 tonnes in the offshore area.

The Institute suggests introducing a fishery season from March to July. This will ensure that new crabs join the stock and prevent the catch of “soft”, commercially invaluable crabs that often do not survive being released back into the sea.

For more information, please contact:

Scientist AnnDorte Burmeister by e-mail anbu@natur.gl or phone +299 361200.