Terms of Reference

Review of Scallop by Trawl Experimental Fishery, 2000-2013

Regional Science Response Process – Pacific Region

October 2014
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Dennis Rutherford

Context

The Scallop Trawl fishery is a small fishery, managed through area-based quotas, total allowable catch (“TAC”) and, a fishery notification (“hail”) program funded by commercial harvesters. The total allowable catch is based on survey results. The commercial scallop fishery began in 1982 under a licence that allowed for harvest of both pink and spiny scallops by dive and trawl gear. In 1993, the dive and trawl fisheries were split. There was no limit to the number of licences issued annually in either fishery.

In 2000, a Framework for Pink and Spiny Scallop Fisheries off the West Coast of Canada was presented to the Pacific Scientific Advice Review Committee (PSARC) (Lauzier et al. 2000) and protocols for scallop dive and trawl surveys were developed based this document. In 2005, a subsequent paper was presented to  which analysed data from 2000 – 2002 from the experimental scallop fisheries and provided preliminary estimates of natural mortality and growths rates of scallops and made recommendations for appropriate harvest rates on both exploited and unexploited populations of scallops (Lauzier et al. 2005).

Since August 2007, pursuant to the DFO New Emerging Fisheries Policy (DFO 2008), the Department has licensed the scallop by trawl harvest using a non-transferable exploratory fishing licence. Beginning in early 2009, the Department started consultations with all stakeholders to discuss the possibility of converting exploratory licences to commercial licences. Currently, a non-transferable scallop by trawl exploratory fishing licence is issued annually from August 1 to July 31 of the following year. In recent years, an average of five licences have been issued annually, with three licences actively fishing. Annual landings have been in the order of 11.3 t to 15.9 t.

As part of the exploratory fishery, surveys have been undertaken for each fishing location, with the intent of developing a continuous time series of biomass surveys to develop preliminary biological reference points and to refine survey protocols. Updated estimates of natural mortality and scallop growth rates were presented by Surry et al (2011). No changes to the harvest rates were recommended. The Department is currently reviewing the status and future of the exploratory fishery and will be consulting on the future of the Scallop by Trawl fishery. As per the Exploratory Fishery Guideline for Pink and Spiny Scallops, a number of conditions were established for the exploratory fishery to transition from an exploratory to a full commercial fishery including; biomass surveys, required to establish a biologically based harvest quotas, and habitat assessments.

In 2009, the Department began implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Framework (SFF). The Sustainable Fisheries Framework is a suite of policies established to provide the foundation for an ecosystem-based and precautionary approach to fisheries management in Canada that will promote environmentally sustainable fisheries and support economic prosperity in the industry and fishing communities. One policy under the SFF, “A Fishery Decision-Making Framework Incorporating the Precautionary Approach” (PA Framework) (DFO 2009), outlines the methods for applying the Precautionary Approach (PA) in the management of Canadian fisheries. The development of a harvest strategy compliant with the PA is desired for Pink and Spiny Scallops.

The elements of the harvest strategy component of the DFO PA include a removal reference for three stock status zones delineated by a Limit Reference Point (LRP) and an Upper Stock Reference (USR) (DFO 2006). Moving forward on this requirement for British Columbia Pink and Spiny Scallops stocks will need to take place over several years, due to limited biological and time series data. The current assessment framework, if implemented on an annual basis, will facilitate the development of PA compliant provisional reference points.

Fisheries Resource Management Branch has requested Science Branch provide a summary of scallop trawl survey results from (2000-2013) along with commentary on the utility of surveys in moving towards PA compliant reference points.

Objectives

The following Science Response will address the specific objectives as outlined below.

1. Provide summary of biomass estimates for each area surveyed and the uncertainty associated with the estimates from 2000 to 2013.
2. Present and comment on stock trends for each area surveyed from 2000 to 2013.
3. Provide commentary on the utility of the survey data collected to date for development of PA compliant reference points.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Branch Pacific Region, and Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Pacific Region
• Industry biologist

References

DFO 2008. New Emerging Fisheries Policy.

DFO. 2009. A Fishery Decision-Making Framework Incorporating the Precautionary Approach.

Lauzier, R.B., S.E. Campana, R. Hinder. 2000. Framework for Pink and Spiny Scallop Fisheries off the West Coast of Canada. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2000/123. 37 p.

Lauzier, R.B., Walthers, L.C., Hajas, W.C., Lessard, J., Wylie, E. 2005. Progressing to a scientifically-based assessment and management system for renewed commercial pink and spiny scallop fisheries off the British Columbia Coast. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2005/087. i +37p.

Surry, A.M., Fong, K.H., Rutherford, D.T., and Nguyen, H. 2011. Update to the assessment framework for the pink and spiny scallop (Chlamys rubida and C. hastata) dive fishery in waters off the west coast of Canada. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2011/123. x + 65.