Research Document - 2001/151
Pandalus danae, Coonstripe shrimp: A Review of the Biology and Recommended Assessment Framework for Directed Fisheries
By J.S. Dunham and J.A. Boutillier
Abstract
In response to Fisheries and Oceans Canada's New Emerging Fisheries Policy, the Pacific Region has developed an implementation framework for emerging fisheries. This paper was produced to meet the stage 1 "information stage" requirements of this framework and presents an appropriate assessment and management framework for the development of directed fisheries for coonstripe shrimp (Pandalus danae) in British Columbia.
Important aspects of coonstripe shrimp biology that the assessment framework addresses include: 1) the possibility of limited larval dispersal; 2) the phenomenon called protandrous hermaphrodism; 3) the ability to produce primary females; and 4) the potential multiparous nature of the shrimp.
In Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California coonstripe shrimp are incidentally exploited in shrimp trap and trawl fisheries. In Washington, there are also directed trap and trawl fisheries for coonstripe shrimp. In California, there are commercial and recreational trap fisheries. In British Columbia, coonstripe shrimp are incidentally exploited by recreational and aboriginal fishers who generally target prawns, although coonstripe shrimp are targeted by sport fishers around Sidney and Sooke (Pacific Fisheries Management Areas 19 and 20). Coonstripe shrimp are exploited by commercial trap and trawl fisheries, generally as bycatch to other targeted shrimp species. A directed trap fishery has existed in Areas 19 and 28, a fishery continues today in Area 20. The trawl fishery began targeting coonstripe shrimp in Areas 18 and 19 around 1995.
Regulatory approaches for controlling recruitment and growth overfishing are described for coonstripe shrimp fisheries in British Columbia. In Areas 18 and 19, the commercial trawl fishery is managed using fishery independent stock assessment trawl and trap surveys (to estimate stock sizes), exploitation rates and quotas. The current survey methodology and quota system were developed for mixed shrimp stocks and are not appropriate for a directed coonstripe shrimp trawl fishery. Problems with the current methodology include: 1) large variations in biomass estimates; and 2) surveys are not being done at the particular sites where coonstripe shrimp are targeted. Coonstripe shrimp stocks in Areas 18 and 19 should be identified and surveyed separately from other mixed shrimp stocks. The quota system should be revised to: 1) apply specifically to coonstripe shrimp stocks to ensure that the season for exploiting these shrimp does not close when the quota for another shrimp species is reached; and 2) target the larger size classes, not the entire population, because larger animals are being targeted by fishers. A catch validation monitoring program should be implemented to measure the fishery impacts which result from removing the larger shrimp size classes. A fixed escapement management system cannot be used at this time to manage coonstripe shrimp fisheries due to the complex biology of the shrimp and lack of data. Size limits are not currently used in coonstripe shrimp trap and trawl fisheries. It would be simple to implement a minimum size limit in the trap fishery, but more complicated for a trawl fishery. Fishing effort should be controlled in a trawl fishery for coonstripe shrimp; effort is already controlled in the trap fishery in Area 20 through restrictions on trap numbers and short openings. No reserves have been established to protect coonstripe shrimp stocks from exploitation. Bycatch and collateral damage are serious issues in the trap and trawl industries and should be quantified through a bycatch monitoring program. Allocation between trap and trawl gear will be an issue in directed fisheries because trap and trawl areas overlap. More management flexibility would be available if directed coonstripe shrimp fisheries were included under the Pacific framework for emerging fisheries. Much of the research that has been done on coonstripe shrimp occurred 70 years ago at locales other than in Areas 18, 19 and 20; additional biotic and abiotic information about coonstripe shrimp is needed in these three areas. The paper concludes that there is potential for targeted coonstripe shrimp fisheries within BC's coastal waters, especially in Areas 18, 19 and 20, under a precautionary framework.
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