Terms of Reference

Review of BC Northern Abalone Survey Methods

Science Response Process – Pacific Region

March 11, 2016
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Tammy Norgard

Context

British Columbia Northern Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) has been surveyed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for the past 37 years using the Breen survey method (Breen and Adkins 1979), the original  method used during the commercial fishery to assess index sites.  In the past 15 years two new survey methods, Transect and Plot, have been developed to assess Northern Abalone populations for different objectives, such as impact assessment and rebuilding efforts.  All three of these methods provide an estimate of Northern Abalone density and associated error.

DFO Species at Risk Act (SARA) program has requested guidance on the selection and use of appropriate survey methods to survey Northern Abalone, so that direction can be provided to First Nations and other stakeholders to ensure that surveys undertaken are executed consistently, and in a manner such that the data can be used to assess population abundance and monitor species recovery.  This report will not provide advice on site specific survey design, or consider alternate survey methods and designs to those currently developed by DFO and used for BC Northern Abalone.

Objectives

The following Science Response will provide the basis for advice on the specific objectives outlined below.

1. Describe the existing DFO Northern Abalone survey methods: Breen (Breen 1978), Plot (Lessard et al. 2007) and Transect (Lessard et al. 2007 & Lessard et al. 2002).
2. Review the strengths and weaknesses of each method, and describe the appropriate application for each method.  
3. Provide guidance on the information required for developing a site-specific survey design.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science, SARA)
• External technical experts

References

Breen, P.A., and Adkins, B.E. 1979. A survey of abalone populations on the east coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands, August 1978. Fish. Mar. Serv. Manuscr. Rep. 1490: 125 p.

Lessard, J., Campbell, A., and Hajas, W. 2002. Survey protocol for the removal of allowable numbers of northern abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana, for use as broodstock in aquaculture in British Columbia. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2002/126.  40 p.

Lessard, J., Campbell, A., Z. Zhang. L. MacDougall, and Hankewich, S. 2007. Recovery Potential Assessment for northern abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana, in Canada. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2007/061. iii + 101 p.