Science Advisory Report 2009/066

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 2009.
• The forecast mature stock biomass for 2010 is 5,750 tonnes, which is below the fishing threshold (10,700 t), and only food, social, or ceremonial harvest in 2010 is consistent with the harvest decision rule.

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 2009 was 635 tonnes or 6% of the coastal total and the validated catch was 713 tonnes. The roe herring gillnet TAC in 2009 was 1,179 tonnes or 11% of the coastal total and the validated catch was 1,286 tonnes.
• The 2010 mature stock biomass forecast is 15,499 tonnes, which is above the fishing threshold (12,100 t). The recommended maximum allowable harvest for 2010 is 3,100 t.

Central Coast

• All Pacific herring spawning in Kitasu Bay (Statistical Area 6), those in Statistical Area 7, and part of Area 8 (Kwakshua Channel and Fitz High Sound) 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 2009.
• The forecast of mature stock biomass for 2010 is 7,577 tonnes, which is below the fishing threshold (17,600 t). Only food, social or ceremonial harvest in 2010 is consistent with the harvest decision rule.

Strait of Georgia

• All herring spawning within the Strait of Georgia (SOG) are assumed to belong to a single stock that migrates into the SOG 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 2009 was 5,228 tonnes or 49% of the coastal total and the validated catch was 5,685 tonnes. The roe herring gillnet TAC in 2009 was 3,617 tonnes or 34% of the coastal total and the validated catch was 3,937 tonnes.
• The forecast mature stock biomass for 2010 is 45,001 tonnes, well above the fishing threshold (21,200 t). The recommended maximum allowable harvest for 2010 is 9,000 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 2009.
• The forecast of mature stock biomass for 2010 is 6,063 tonnes, which is below the fishing threshold (18,800 t). Only food, social or ceremonial harvest in 2010 is consistent with the harvest decision rule.

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