Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update and Harvest Options for the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fishery in British Columbia, 2018-2021

Science Response Process – Pacific Region

April 2018
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Janet Lochead

Context

Stock assessments and harvest options for British Columbia’s Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fishery are conducted every two or three years. They provide advice to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fisheries Management (FM) for the development of the fishery’s multi-year Integrated Fishery Management Plans (IFMPs). The last stock status update was conducted in 2016 (DFO 2016). The present process will 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 2016).

The existing Green Sea Urchin stock assessment does not estimate stock status relative to reference points that are consistent with the DFO’s Fishery Decision-Making Framework Incorporating the Precautionary Approach (DFO Precautionary Approach) (DFO 2009), because the reference points were established prior to the policy (Perry et al. 2003).  DFO Fisheries Management has requested advice from Science Branch to assess the Green Sea Urchin stock in regions of BC open to commercial fishing, relative to reference points that are consistent with the DFO’s Precautionary Approach, highlight recent trends in local populations and population structure of Green Sea Urchins, and provide ranges of sustainable harvest options for the commercial harvest areas (Pacific Fisheries Management Areas [PFMAs] 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20) 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 2018-2021.

Objective

The objectives for this Science Response are to:

1. Suggest candidate reference points for Green Sea Urchins consistent with the DFO Precautionary Approach.
2. Assess the current status of Green Sea Urchins relative to the suggested reference points.
3. Provide the ranges of sustainable harvest options and their associated risks for the commercial harvest areas.
4. Analyse index site survey data and present the recent trends in the local populations and population structure for Green Sea Urchins.
5. Examine and identify uncertainties in the data and methods. 
6. Provide recommendations for additional research or stock assessment programs.

Expected Publications

• 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 2009. A Fishery Decision-Making Framework Incorporating the Precautionary Approach. (Accessed March 22, 2018).

DFO. 2016. Stock Status Update and Harvest Options for the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) Fishery in British Columbia, 2016-2019. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2016/031.

DFO. 2014. 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.