The Food and Bait Fishery is over for this year and it was not as productive as the fishers wanted.  They couldn’t fill their quota, never a sign that the stock is big and healthy.  They had a quota of 2100 tonnes but only got 1732 short tons.  The bulk of the harvest was in Northumberland Channel, which is between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island.  There has been a recovering spawn around Thetis and Penelakut Islands just south of Northumberland Channel and we are concerned that some of those recovering spawners were harvested.  We could tell by DNA testing which finally DFO is capable of…but no…the DNA testing lab is moving to Port Hardy.  Very very far away from any fishing boats.

About 120 tons were harvested off of Qualicum and about 50 tons were harvested off Maude Island near Lantzville.

DFO has hired a few seiners to go out and survey herring with their depth sounders, a process called acoustic survey.  This survey is not exactly accurate but it does provide a location and estimation of the herring present.  Norway has researched and refined the acoustic survey and set their harvest accordingly.  This gives  a better idea of the returning biomass.  DFO does not use the acoustic survey to set quotas on harvest. DFO uses a complicated algorithm to calculate the quota back in July, and if the acoustic survey shows a poor return, too bad the quota was set in stone in July.

Right now, Feb 22, the acoustic survey is showing small amounts of herring in the south and 2450 tonnes at Komas Bluffs on the northeast shore of Denman Island.  

You can get more information on the acoustic surveys by following on Facebook, Pacific Herring Spawn Reporting – IMAWG

As ever, give me a call if you want to talk herring for an hour or two.

— Jim Shortreed, 250 937 9475