Fishery Notice

Category(s):
ABORIGINAL - General Information
COMMERCIAL - Herring - Roe: Gill Net
COMMERCIAL - Herring - Roe: Seine
COMMERCIAL - Herring - Roe: Test Fishery
COMMERCIAL - Herring: Spawn on Kelp
Subject:
FN0325-COMMERCIAL - Herring - Roe: WCVI Herring Stock Assessment Program - Update # 7 - April 4, 2019


DATE: April 5  

WCVI

The most recent herring spawn flight was conducted on March 30, covering Area 
23 - 25. No spawn was observed. No flight currently planned.

The assessment dive team was in Area 23 this week. 

First Nation contractors continue to conduct herring spawn reconnaissance, 
supplemental surface spawn surveys and FSC catch monitoring on the west coast 
of Vancouver Island in:

"	Area 23 
"	Area 24
"	Area 25 

The test boat has completed its duties for this year.
The dive vessel Pachena No 1 has completed its dive charter.
The shore based dive vessel Seaveyor is still available to assess spawn.

Test samples by area:

Area 23 - 5 samples
Area 24 - 3 samples
Area 25 - 7 samples


Area 23 Barkley Sound

6500 tonnes 

Apri1 1: The herring dive assessment vessel working in Macoah Passage area 
reported active spawn near Salmon Beach south towards Ucluelet Harbour.  

April 2: Active spawn from two rivers south into Newcombe Channel. 

April 3 active spawn in Newcombe channel and around Food Islets.


Area 24 Clayoquot Sound

1500 tonnes

April 1 FN Charter reported a small spawn in Whitesand Cove.

April 4 no further spawn observed.

Area 25 Nootka Sound

11,000 tonnes

April 4: No further spawn observed.

Area 25 Esperanza Inlet

2600 tonnes

April 4: No further spawn observed.

Area 27 Quatsino Sound

March 30: No further spawn observed.

Total WCVI: 21,600 tonnes

Please note: 

The primary objective of the herring test seine vessel program is to collect 
herring biological samples from Areas 23-25 for stock assessment purposes (e.g. 
size of fish, age distribution of fish in each sample).  Herring stock 
locations and estimates are collected as part of the stock assessment program 
to locate herring stocks in as part of the sampling process to collect the 
biological samples, and do not cover all areas.  The tonnage of stocks for each 
area provided in this notice are in season estimates only, and do not reflect 
the biomass of stocks in the area.  The estimates of stock biomass will be 
provided in the analysis which will be undertaken in the post season period, 
following the collection of biological samples as well as herring spawn 
distribution and abundance data. 

The vessel selected to collect biological samples for herring stock assessment 
in 2019 is the F/V Proud Canadian with skipper Philip Dupuis.  The test vessel 
operated on WCVI for 20 days in 2019.  No fish were retained for sale.     

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Mike Spence DFO Port Alberni 250 720 4448

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0325
Sent April 5, 2019 at 0952