Science Advisory Report 2009/059

Stock Assessment Report on Pacific Herring in British Columbia

Summary

Queen Charlotte Islands

• All Pacific herring spawning from Cumshewa Inlet in the north to Louscoone Inlet in the south are assumed to be part of a single Queen Charlotte Islands (QCI) stock that migrates inshore in the late fall and leaves, after spawning, in late March and early April.
• No commercial herring fishery occurred in this area in 2008.
• The forecast mature stock biomass for 2009 is 3,647 tonnes, which is below the fishing threshold (10,700 t), and only food, social, or ceremonial harvest is anticipated for 2009.

Prince Rupert District

• All herring spawning within Statistical Areas 3 to 5 are assumed to belong to the Prince Rupert District (PRD) stock that migrates inshore from Hecate Strait in the late fall and leaves, after spawning, in late March and early April.
• The roe herring seine total allowable catch (TAC) in 2008 was 454 tonnes or 4% of the coastal total and the validated catch was 513 tonnes. The roe herring gillnet TAC in 2008 was 1,089 tonnes or 10% of the coastal total and the validated catch was 1,148 tonnes
• The 2009 mature stock biomass forecast is 17,342 tonnes, well above the fishing threshold (12,100 t), with an allowable harvest of 3,468 tonnes.

Central Coast

• All Pacific herring spawning in Kitasu Bay (Statistical Area 6), those in Statistical Area 7, and most of Area 8 are assumed to be part of a single Central Coast (CC) stock that migrates inshore in the late fall and leaves, after spawning, in late March and early April.
• No commercial herring fishery occurred in this area in 2008.
• The forecast mature stock biomass for 2009 is 6,207 tonnes, which is below the fishing threshold (17,600 t), and will not support a commercial fishery in 2009.

Strait of Georgia

• All herring spawning within the Strait of Georgia (SG) are assumed to belong to a single stock that migrates into the SG in the late fall and leaves, after spawning, in March. A few areas in the Strait also contain what appear to be resident or non-migratory herring throughout the summer. For stock assessment purposes these fish are considered part of the Strait of Georgia herring stock.
• The roe herring seine total allowable catch (TAC) in 2008 was 5,783 tonnes or 51% of the coastal total and the validated catch was 6,046 tonnes. The roe herring gillnet TAC in 2008 was 4,014 tonnes or 35% of the coastal total and the validated catch was 2,752 tonnes.
• The forecast mature stock biomass for 2009 is 58,985 tonnes, well above the fishing threshold (21,200 t), with an allowable harvest of 11,797 tonnes.

West coast Vancouver Island

• All herring spawning within Statistical Areas 23 to 25 are assumed to belong to the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) herring stock that migrates inshore in the late fall and leaves, after spawning, in late February through March.
• No commercial fishery occurred on the west coast of Vancouver Island in 2008.
• The forecast mature stock biomass for 2009 is 3,894 tonnes, which is below the fishing threshold (18,800 t), and will not support a commercial fishery in 2009.

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