Factors affecting prevalence and distribution of Bitter Crab Disease in Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) : an investigation toward formulating fishery management strategies

This report is submitted to partially satisfy the requirements for completion of the Master of Marine Studies in Fisheries Resource Management Programme at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. As such, all statements and intellectual property contained herein are the responsibility of the author. -- The report focuses on Bitter Crab Disease (BCD) in Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio). Specifically, it investigates potential factors affecting prevalence and distribution of the disease toward formulating effective fisheries management strategies to deal with it. The report entails a review of snow crab biology, an overview of the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab fishery, a literature review of BCD, and original research investigating prevalence and patterns of BCD in snow crab in coastal bays along the northeast coast of Newfoundland