January 24, 2005 VANCOUVER -- Fisheries and Oceans Canada today announced the of the 2005 Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (IFMP) for roe herring and herring spawn-on-kelp (SOK) in British Columbia. The Pacific Scientific Advice Review Committee annually provides stock forecasts and recommendations on allowable catches by assessing current abundance and determining other factors that may affect stock abundance. The quotas and catch limits for the various fisheries for Pacific herring in B.C. are set conservatively, based on an exploitation rate of 20 per cent or less, leaving some 80 per cent of the stock in the ecosystem. Fluctuations in herring abundance are a normal occurrence. For the 2005 fishing season, the estimated abundance in four of the five herring stock assessment regions (Prince Rupert, Central Coast, Strait of Georgia, and the West Coast of Vancouver Island) will provide for commercial roe herring fisheries. SOK fisheries will occur in three of the four stock assessment regions normally used by this fishery (a lack of the appropriate type of kelp precludes SOK harvest opportunities in the Strait of Georgia.). In the Queen Charlotte Islands (QCI), the abundance of herring stocks remains low and no roe herring fisheries are planned and no SOK fisheries will occur on the eastern side of QCI (Area 2E). DFO has met with the Haida First Nation and heard their concerns regarding the impact of a closure on their SOK fisheries. However, given the abundance of herring in Area 2E is the lowest on record, and this population has not responded to precautionary fishing measures over the last two years, the scientific advice is for a complete closure of commercial fishing for herring in the area in 2005. SOK licence holders that normally fish in Area 2E will be allowed to fish in the western side of QCI (Area 2W) instead. Alternatively, the Department has indicated QCI licence holders who choose not to fish in 2005, will have their annual licence fee set to zero. For the commercial roe herring fisheries, no significant changes are planned for 2005. The roe herring fishery is the largest of the herring fisheries, with many First Nation participants. There are 252 seine and 1,254 gillnet (category "H") licence privileges in this fishery. This fishery begins in late February and continues until about late April. Opening dates and times occur just before the fish spawn, when roe content of the fish is determined to be at a maximum quantity and quality. In 2005, roe herring fisheries will continue to operate as pool fisheries with an industry-funded dockside monitoring program. Since 1998, the roe herring pool fishery management strategy has worked well to reduce catch overages and ensure a smoothly operating fishery. The recommended coast-wide commercial roe herring total allowable catch (TAC) is 25,574 tonnes (28,190 tons), which is a slight decrease from last year. SOK fisheries occur from early March to late June. The target harvest of the SOK fishery is the herring eggs deposited on kelp fronds after spawning, rather than the fish themselves. There are 46 (category "J" or "FJ") licences in the SOK fishery. The SOK TAC is 2,722 tonnes (3,000 tons) for 37 non-Heiltsuk licences and 476 tonnes (525 tons) for the nine Heiltsuk First Nation licences. With the exception of the Queen Charlotte Islands where herring abundance is at a record low level, spawn-on-kelp allocations and harvest arrangements are similar to those in 2004. Catch monitoring is an essential element of the SOK individual quota system. There is an industry-funded monitoring program that facilitates management of the SOK fishery and contributes to the control of illegal fishing activity. As with the commercial roe herring fishery, there will be 100 per cent dockside monitoring of all commercial landings of SOK. The commercial roe herring and the SOK IFMPs were developed through extensive consultations with the herring fishing industry and coastal First Nations. The roe herring and SOK fisheries constitute the main part of the B.C. commercial herring harvest, with provisions made within the context of these plans for other fisheries. Herring is also harvested by First Nations and the recreational sector. First Nations have been allocated between three to five per cent (up to approximately 1,360 tonnes or 1,500 tons) of the TAC for food, social and ceremonial purposes. These fisheries include whole herring, SOK, and spawn-on-bough. In the recreational fishery, there is a whole herring daily limit of 20 kilograms, and a possession limit of 40 kilograms. Recreational harvest methods include dip net, herring jig, herring rake, and cast net; the harvest of SOK is not permitted in the recreational fishery. - 30 - For further information: Michelle Imbeau Communications Officer Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region (604) 666-2872
