Research Document 1998/80
The status of the herring in the Bras D'Or Lakes in 1996-1997
By S. Denny, K.J. Clark, M.J. Power, and R.L. Stephenson
Abstract
The Bras d'Or Lakes herring spawning component has not been examined in detail since 1981. A study initiated in 1996 by the Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission and Science Branch of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has led to the collection of more information on the commercial and bait fisheries. Egg bed, spawning and larval surveys, combined with a questionnaire survey of fishers, have further elucidated the status of herring in the Lakes.
Analysis of data collected in this study indicates a deterioration in the status of the Bras d'Or Lakes herring stock. This is corroborated by the dramatic decrease in the number of spawning locations, the low number of larvae collected during a larval survey and the absence of fish at several traditional fishing locations. The intensive concentration of effort on the few remaining spawning sites has also been observed - in the Barra Strait in 1996 and in Baddeck Bay in 1997. Finally, the narrow age distributions of the samples collected during the 1996 and 1997 commercial fishery are possible indicators of weak recruiting year classes.
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