Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update and Quota Options for the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus Droebachiensis) Fishery in British Columbia, 2016-2019

Science Response Process – Pacific Region

April 6, 2016
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Janet Lochead

Context

Stock assessments and quota options for British Columbia’s Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fishery are conducted every three years. They provide advice to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fisheries Management for the development of the fishery’s multi-year Integrated Fishery Management Plans (IFMPs). The last stock assessment was conducted in 2013 (DFO 2015). The present process is intended to update the previously published assessment results using the most recently available commercial catch and survey information (Perry et al. 2003; Zhang and Perry 2005; Perry et al. 2006; Waddell et al. 2010, DFO 2014).

DFO Fisheries Management has requested advice from Science Branch to assess the Green Sea Urchin stock in regions of British Columbia (BC) open to commercial fishing, highlight recent trends in local populations and population structure of Green Sea Urchins, and provide ranges of sustainable harvest quotas for the commercial harvest areas (Pacific Fisheries Management Areas [PFMAs] 12, 13, 18 and 19) including risks or uncertainties.

The assessment, and advice arising from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Response (SR), will be used to inform the development of the new three-year IFMP for 2016-2019.

Objective

Science information and advice will be prepared for Green Sea Urchin status and harvest options in BC following a Science Response process and reported in the document:

DFO.  2016.  Stock status update and quota options for the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fishery in British Columbia, 2016-2019. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2016/nnn

The specific objectives of this review are to:

1. Provide the ranges of sustainable harvest quotas and their associated risks for the commercial harvest areas.
2. Analyse index site survey data and present the recent trends in the local populations and population structure for Green Sea Urchins.
3. Examine and identify uncertainties in the data and methods. 
4. Provide recommendations for additional research or stock assessment programs.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, and Ecosystems and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Pacific Urchin Harvesters Association

References

DFO. 2015. Stock status update and quota options for the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fishery in British Columbia, 2013-2016. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2014/052.

Perry, R.I., Zhang, Z., and Waddell, B.J. 2003. Assessment of green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) stocks in British Columbia, 2003. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2003/082. 55 p.

Perry, R.I., Zhang, Z., and Waddell, B. 2006. Stock assessment and quota options for the Green Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis fishery in British Columbia, 2006-2009. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2005/064.

Waddell, B., Zhang, Z., and Perry, R.I. 2010. Stock assessment and quota options for the green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, fishery in British Columbia, 2010-2013. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2010/027. vi + 36 p.

Zhang, Z., and Perry, R.I. 2005. Use of state-space modeling with a Bayesian approach to estimate target reference points for green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) stocks in the Queen Charlotte Strait regions, British Columbia, Canada. Fish. Res. 74: 253-264.