The commercial seafood industry in BC has the highest commitment to resource management. Each fishery contributes to research, stock assessment, and data management. Through extensive survey programs and rigorous catch monitoring, this research and management is fully funded by the industry. Overall, the BC Seafood industry contributes more than $10 million every year to ensure that our fisheries are sustainable. The contribution of commercial fisheries provides the most accurate depiction of stock assessments. Together, biologists, the Department of Fisheries, First Nations, and fish harvesters work towards studying the dynamic nature of fish and shellfish. We help to study fish ageing, ecosystems, predators, and climate change.
*Research method for: Geoduck, Herring, Sea Cucumbers, Sea Urchins.
During Geoduck density surveys, divers work in pairs, counting geoducks one metre on either side of transects (lead lines) randomly placed on the ocean floor within geoduck beds and record their observations on waterproof data sheets clipped to their metre sticks. The results of each survey are analyzed and reviewed by DFO and the UHA, to ensure that only the target harvest rate of 1.2% to 1.8% of the current biomass is harvested annually. These dive surveys take place each Spring and Summer. The Geoduck fishery has actively surveyed Geoduck beds each year since 1994.
For Sea Urchin, commercial divers count of the number of Sea Urchins along a transect line. Transect lines are dropped in commercial Urchin fishing beds (fishing areas). Divers count the number of Sea Urchins present in the given transect to gain an understanding of the overall biomass along the coast of BC.
For Sea Cucumber, the survey design is standardized around pre-planned randomly chosen transects running from a depth of 50 feet to surface using sampling protocols that basically involve counting and measuring sea cucumbers within 1 metre on either side of the transect according to a predetermined prescribed pattern. Annual multi-species surveys are also now being initiated to provide complementary metrics on ecosystem trends as well as on individual species observed during the survey.
For Herring, annual surveys are conducted each year using commercial divers to correctly count the total egg deposition along the coast of BC. Once herring have finished laying their eggs, areas are marked out in squares called quadrats, they record information used to calculate the amount of herring eggs laid in a particular area. The data from dive surveys combined with fishery sample data and dockside monitoring provide a very vigorous stock assessment model for Herring in BC.
*Research method for: Herring, Sablefish, & Groundfish Trawl.
During Groundfish trawl surveys, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Canadian Groundfish Research and Conservation Society (CGRCS) have implemented a comprehensive multi-species synoptic bottom trawl survey strategy that covers most of the BC Coast. There are four main surveys, two of which are conducted each year. The Hecate Strait survey and the Queen Charlotte Sound survey are conducted in odd-numbered years while the West Coast Vancouver Island survey and the West Coast Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands) survey are conducted in even-numbered years. Surveys are conducted on both chartered commercial vessels and government research vessels. The Hecate Strait and West Coast Vancouver Island surveys are conducted on the Canadian Coast Guard research trawler while the Queen Charlotte Sound and the West Coast Haida Gwaii surveys are conducted on chartered commercial fishing vessels. The objectives of these surveys are to provide fishery-independent abundance indices of as many benthic and near-benthic fish species available to trawling as is reasonable while obtaining supporting biological samples from selected species. The abundance indices and biological information are incorporated into stock assessments, status reports, and research publications.
Sablefish: The Canadian Sablefish Association and DFO conduct an annual survey on the outer coast from the border with Washington State to the Alaskan border. About 100 survey sets of 25 traps each are deployed using longline trap gear. The survey is divided into five areas and three depth ranges to ensure that all Sablefish habitat is represented. Sablefish numbers and weight per trap are recorded, and Sablefish are retained for biological sampling of fish size, sex, and maturity. Small bones called otoliths are excised from the heads of sampled fish for subsequent ageing by DFO technicians.
The primary objective of the Herring test seine vessel program is to collect Herring biological samples from the five major and minor stock areas for stock assessment purposes. Herring location, abundance estimates, and biological samples are collected as part of the stock assessment program and does not cover all areas. Formal scientific estimates of stock abundance will be available in the post-season from dive surveys measuring egg deposition and biological samples collected from the test vessel.
*Research method for: Hake.
A Bi-Annual Acoustic Survey occurs from California to the top of Haida Gwaii and is done in partnership with USA and Canadian research vessels that sound for hake along predetermined transect lines and fish for samples to confirm species composition, age, length, weight, sex and maturity. On board are acousticians and biologists who take careful measurements and statistics of the groupings of hake seen on the sonar and the individual fish caught and sampled.
There is also a Bi-Annual Research Survey which occurs in the off years of the acoustic survey. During this survey, ecological data is collected, gear is calibrated, and new and existing research methods are tested.
*Research method for: Dungeness Crab.
The Area A Crab Association conducts a softshell survey every year, where they collect data to determine the timing of the male moult. This self-funded survey runs from late February to late July every year, with a small break when the crabs are moulting and their shells are soft. Once there is evidence of the moult, the fishery closes. The survey starts up again several weeks later to determine when crabs have finished moulting, at which point the fishery can reopen. Much like the stock assessment surveys, this survey also collects data on the size, sex, and shell condition of crabs.
*Research method for: Halibut.
Each year, International Pacific Halibut Commission conducts a Fishery-Independent Setline Survey (FISS) that provides catch information and biological data on Pacific halibut. These data, collected using standardized methods, bait, and gear during the summer of each year, provide IPHC stock assessors with information necessary for the stock assessment of Pacific halibut and determining the status of the resource.
Research method for: Sablefish.
The survey also collects video using deep-water autonomous cameras deployed on the survey gear as well as accelerometers that measures gear movement when fishing. The video is used to confirm the presence or absence of habitat-forming species such as corals and sponges, while the accelerometers are used to quantify the extent of movement when the gear is soaking on the ocean floor.
Research method for: Spot Prawns.
Each October, Spawner Index Surveys take place in three locations in BC. The surveys provide data on the number of Berried female prawns that are spawning. The research during these surveys also counts the number of prawns by age class in each area. The surveys assist in determining closure dates for each fishing area and then for the fishery coast wide.
*Research method for: Sablefish
Sablefish are tagged and released for later recovery by various commercial fisheries in Alaska, BC, and the US west coast. Over 150,000 Sablefish have been tagged. The tags provide data on Sablefish movement and gear selectivity for stock assessment.
Survey data and research are combined with fishery catch data to conduct stock assessments of the fish and shellfish resources in BC. This information helps develop a harvest strategy designed to meet the requirements of Canada’s Fisheries Act and precautionary approach harvest policy.
