Research Document - 1999/094

Discussion on a Precautionary approach for management of the red sea urchin fishery in British Columbia.

By A.Campbell, J. Boutillier and J. Rogers

Abstract

The red sea urchin has been fished commercially in British Columbia (B.C.) since 1971. The total landed value has generally increased throughout the red sea urchin fishery to nearly Can. $11.3 million by 1996. There were 109 licensed vessels with a coastwide annual quota of 6625 t, 19.1 % allocated to the South Coast and 80.9 % allocated to the North Coast of B.C. in 1996. Currently the main management tools of the red sea urchin fishery include (1) a minimum size limit of 100 mm TD (test diameter, mm) to allow about three spawning years for red sea urchin prior to harvest, (2) a quota system to provide a conservative fixed exploitation rate, (3) limited licence entry, and (4) an Individual Quota (IQ) program.

Commercial fishermen and fish processors have been requesting reductions in the minimum legal size limit to better meet market demands for the best quality gonad (roe) product which is extracted from red sea urchins. Fisheries Managers have requested that a long term strategy be developed that incorporates adaptive management methods for optimal harvest of red sea urchins while maintaining a precautionary approach to the management of this valuable resource.

The objectives of this paper are to review the history of the commercial fishery, data collection programs, the biological features of red sea urchins, and discuss fishery management goals, the problems and concerns and discuss a precautionary approach to future strategies.

Taking into account the biological characteristics of red sea urchins (which are slow growth, long life, and sporadic recruitment) and the uncertainty of biomass and natural mortality estimates the following are some of the management strategies that are suggested for consideration. Reductions in the minimum size limit such as to 90 mm test diameter (TD) should be accompanied by reductions of exploitation rate to ensure sufficient brood stock reproduction. Large experimental management areas could be used to test the efficacy of the present management system and address issues as they relate to the appropriateness of different exploitation rates, change in size limit to 90 mm TD or limit thresholds. Monitoring programs would be needed to obtain changes in size composition and gonad quality of commercially harvested populations and fishery independent abundance/biomass indices.

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