Research Document - 2002/123
A review of the biology and fishery of the Embiotocids of British Columbia.
By Lane, E.D., Wulff, W., McDiarmid, A., Hay D.E., Rusch, B.
Abstract
This paper reviews and summarizes available information on the biology and fisheries on British Columbia surfperch species (Embiotocidae). Surfperches are found only in the North Pacific, and eighteen of the 20 species occur in North America waters, from Northern Mexico to southern Alaska. There are eight species of surfperch (Embiotocidae) in British Columbia (BC) waters and some species have been harvested for over 100 years, mainly by recreational anglers. No reliable quantitative information is This paper reviews and summarizes available information on the biology and fisheries on British Columbia surfperch species (Embiotocidae). Surfperches are found only in the North Pacific, and eighteen of the 20 species occur in North America waters, from Northern Mexico to southern Alaska. There are eight species of surfperch (Embiotocidae) in British Columbia (BC) waters and some species have been harvested for over 100 years, mainly by recreational anglers. No reliable quantitative information is available on the recreational or commercial catches in BC but from California to BC the recreational catch is considerably larger than the commercial surfperch fishery.
In BC, recreational fishing is almost totally confined to wharves. The present commercial fishery in BC is small, but expanding. The current commercial fishery fluctuates with market demand. The most targeted species is probably the pile perch caught for the Asian live fish restaurant trade. There also appears to be a small demand for two species of surfperch (striped and pile) for the fresh fish market.
The unique biology and life history of surfperches requires special consideration in the further development of directed fisheries. Viviparity, or the birth of few highly developed, live young could limit the ability of surfperch species to recover from population depletion. Information regarding distribution of species within BC is limited with most information based on incidental capture of surfperch in fisheries or surveys for other species. Information on abundance, either relative or absolute, is not available for BC populations.
We recommend that more basic data be collected on surfperch populations to further our knowledge on their distribution, abundance and basic biology. A substantial increase in information could be gained by better documentation of catches at the species level. Presently most incidental capture information of surfperches is noted only at the family level. Further we recommend initiation of some stock identification studies because of concern that the combination of widespread distribution and low fecundity could have fostered the development of a number of genetically distinct populations within BC.
Occasional creel census should be conducted to determine the magnitude of recreational fisheries. Regulations of the current commercial fishery in BC should be enforced to allow for the collection of accurate fishery based data. To protect females bearing live young, we recommend a commercial fishery closure between May 1 and August 31. We suggest that such a total closure could be modified if new information indicates that that such a closure is not required for conservation.
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