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Fisheries limits popular Port Alberni prawn fishery in bid to protect stocks
By Heather Reid, Alberni Valle TimesFebruary 3, 2009 7:01 AM
As part of the strategy to increase prawn stocks, there will be a ban on the recreational harvest of prawns and shrimp in the waters near Port Alberni.
Conservation and protection supervisor for West Coast Vancouver Island, Jim Robson, says these are actually openings.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been working with commercial and recreational fishers to maintain and enhance prawn populations in high use areas like the Alberni Inlet, and they've come up with a three-year trial to do that. Usually, areas around Port Alberni are closed from Christmas on to recreational fishers of shrimp and prawns, but under the new plan the area opens for two weeks at a time even in the winter.
The closures include the Alberni Inlet north of a line drawn from Pocahontas Point to a boundary sign on the opposite side and south of a line from the mouth of Franklin River to a boundary sign on the other side at McTush Campground. The areas are closed from Sunday, Feb. 1 to Sunday Feb. 15 and again from Sunday, March 1 to Sunday, March 15.
There is no harvesting of prawns or shrimp allowed by trap, ring net or spear in the area labelled Pacific Fishery Management Area 23-2.
In addition, Alberni Harbour to Franklin River and Pocahontas Point to Chup Point remain closed until further notice.
The stated purpose of the closures are to maintain recreational prawn fishing opportunities through the winter months and the measures were taken in consultation with recreational and commercial prawn fishers.
The strategy is called pulse fishing, Robson explains. It allows people to catch prawn in the winter months by trading off weeks of closure at other times of year. The plan is based on prawn biology and has been working well here and in the other two high use areas, Saanich Inlet and Stuart Channel, that it is being tried in.
"We've changed the way we manage," Robson says.
What they want to avoid are people catching egg-bearing females in the winter. The pulse fishing is combined with the spawn index to allow the fishery to be closed as the number of females counted in traps declines. In theory the new management method should result in more females and more hatched eggs at the end of the season, Robson says. That means that over time the biomass of the stock should increase. "We should start seeing results in three years," Robson says.
In the meantime the new program has had unexpected fringe benefits for stock management. Robson says it eliminates high-volume users who leave their traps out for long periods without checking them and it has slowed the marketing of illegal prawns.
"It seems to be coming along and working," he says.
There have been other closures in the region that Robson says are environment issues rather than closures due to fishing efforts. He says that Fisheries and Oceans scientists are working at pinning down the causes or possible sampling errors that resulted in a fall closure near Haggard Cove in the fall.
For further information contact the local Fisheries and Oceans Canada office at 250-720-4440. Report violations by calling toll free 1-800-465-4336.
Nootka Marine Adventures
WHERE THE OCEAN IS OUR PLAYGROUND
Charter Packages or Bring Your Own Boat
www.goldriverfishinglodge.com
www.moutchabay.com
Email: h00kedonfishing@hotmail.com
By Heather Reid, Alberni Valle TimesFebruary 3, 2009 7:01 AM
As part of the strategy to increase prawn stocks, there will be a ban on the recreational harvest of prawns and shrimp in the waters near Port Alberni.
Conservation and protection supervisor for West Coast Vancouver Island, Jim Robson, says these are actually openings.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been working with commercial and recreational fishers to maintain and enhance prawn populations in high use areas like the Alberni Inlet, and they've come up with a three-year trial to do that. Usually, areas around Port Alberni are closed from Christmas on to recreational fishers of shrimp and prawns, but under the new plan the area opens for two weeks at a time even in the winter.
The closures include the Alberni Inlet north of a line drawn from Pocahontas Point to a boundary sign on the opposite side and south of a line from the mouth of Franklin River to a boundary sign on the other side at McTush Campground. The areas are closed from Sunday, Feb. 1 to Sunday Feb. 15 and again from Sunday, March 1 to Sunday, March 15.
There is no harvesting of prawns or shrimp allowed by trap, ring net or spear in the area labelled Pacific Fishery Management Area 23-2.
In addition, Alberni Harbour to Franklin River and Pocahontas Point to Chup Point remain closed until further notice.
The stated purpose of the closures are to maintain recreational prawn fishing opportunities through the winter months and the measures were taken in consultation with recreational and commercial prawn fishers.
The strategy is called pulse fishing, Robson explains. It allows people to catch prawn in the winter months by trading off weeks of closure at other times of year. The plan is based on prawn biology and has been working well here and in the other two high use areas, Saanich Inlet and Stuart Channel, that it is being tried in.
"We've changed the way we manage," Robson says.
What they want to avoid are people catching egg-bearing females in the winter. The pulse fishing is combined with the spawn index to allow the fishery to be closed as the number of females counted in traps declines. In theory the new management method should result in more females and more hatched eggs at the end of the season, Robson says. That means that over time the biomass of the stock should increase. "We should start seeing results in three years," Robson says.
In the meantime the new program has had unexpected fringe benefits for stock management. Robson says it eliminates high-volume users who leave their traps out for long periods without checking them and it has slowed the marketing of illegal prawns.
"It seems to be coming along and working," he says.
There have been other closures in the region that Robson says are environment issues rather than closures due to fishing efforts. He says that Fisheries and Oceans scientists are working at pinning down the causes or possible sampling errors that resulted in a fall closure near Haggard Cove in the fall.
For further information contact the local Fisheries and Oceans Canada office at 250-720-4440. Report violations by calling toll free 1-800-465-4336.
Nootka Marine Adventures
WHERE THE OCEAN IS OUR PLAYGROUND
Charter Packages or Bring Your Own Boat
www.goldriverfishinglodge.com
www.moutchabay.com
Email: h00kedonfishing@hotmail.com
