Herring roe fishery

Shaping up to be a okay season....

Subject:
FN0155-COMMERCIAL - Herring - Roe: Strait of Georgia - Update February 24, 2020



ROE HERRING INFORMATION BULLETIN: 04

DATE: Feb 24, 2020

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

AREA 14
Shelter Pt to Cape Lazo-------Feb 22: 1,800 tons
E.C. Denman Island------------Feb 22: 1,400 tons
Lambert Ch. to Chrome Is------Feb 24: 8,000 tons
TEST:Feb 23pm on 4,000 tons Chrome Island: 4.9%;19.0cm;60m:54F;19-3-33-0-2;
(27gm:85.6gm)
E.C. Hornby Is----------------: Not assessed
Tribune Bay/Lower Hornby------Feb 23, 7,200 tons
Upper Baynes Sd---------------Feb 23: NFF
Lower Baynes Sd---------------Feb 23: NFF
Mapleguard to Nile Cr---------Feb 21: NFF
Nile Creek to French Cr-------Feb 21: NFF
French Cr to NW Bay------------Feb 21: 5,000 tons
TEST:Feb 20pm on 2,000 tons Northwest Bay:0.0%;16.8cm;83m:74f;0-1-74-0-45;
(0.0gm:49.5gm)


Total 14: 23,400 assessment incomplete


AREA 17 NORTH
Dorcas Pt/Schooner Cove-------Feb 20: NFF
Inner Nanoose-----------------Feb 20: Not assessed
Outer Nanoose-----------------Feb 20: Not assessed
Blunden to Neck Point---------Feb 20: NFF
Neck Pt to Dodd Narrows-------Feb 20: 31,550 tons

TOTAL AREA 17N: 31,550 tons assessment incomplete


AREA 17 SOUTH-----------------Feb 20: Not assessed

Total Area 17S: Not assessed


TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: Assessment incomplete.
 
For those that want to Compared it to 2019


Subject:
FN0153-COMMERCIAL - Herring - Roe: Strait of Georgia - Update February 26, 2019



ROE HERRING INFORMATION BULLETIN: 06

DATE: Feb 26, 2019

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

AREA 14
Shelter Pt to Cape Lazo-------Feb 22: No fish found to Little River
E.C. Denman Island------------Feb 25: No fish found
Lambert Ch. to Chrome Is------Feb 25: No fish found
E.C. Hornby Is----------------Not assessed
Tribune Bay/Lower Hornby------Feb 26: 15,000 tons assessing Feb 25
Upper Baynes Sd---------------Feb 26: Assessing
Lower Baynes Sd---------------Feb 26: 50 tons
Mapleguard to Nile Cr---------Feb 25: No fish found
Nile Creek to French Cr-------Feb 25: No fish found
French Cr to NW Bay-----------Feb 24: 3,000 tons
TEST: Feb 24 on 1,400 tons at Brant Point: 0.0%; 19.0cm;72m:50f;0-7-43-0-1;
(0.0gm:83.1gm)

Total 14: 33,050 tons, assessment incomplete

AREA 17 NORTH
Dorcas Pt/Schooner Cove-------Feb 23: No fish found
Inner Nanoose-----------------Feb 23: Not assessed
Outer Nanoose-----------------Feb 23: 800 tons
TEST: Feb 23 on 800 tons at Maude Island: 0.0%; 18.1cm; 75m:58f;0-5-53-0-0;
(0.0gm:75.7gm)
Blunden to Neck Point---------Feb 23: NFF
Neck Pt to Dodd Narrows-------Feb 20: NFF
TOTAL AREA 17N: 800 tons assessment incomplete

AREA 17 SOUTH-----------------Not assessed
Total Area 17S: Not assessed

TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: 34,000 tons, assessment incomplete.
 
So, the Roe Herring Fishing season begins with DFO reporting, as was the case last year, either “No Fish Found” or “not assessed” in most areas.
If they are waiting for the Herring to migrate from the Southern Vancouver Island area, they will be disappointed.
This is the “science” some place their faith in to ensure the Herring Harvest does not adversely affect our stocks of the future
DFO announced in October, 2019,
the herring population has dwindled from
approximately 129,500 metric tonnes in 2016, to
85,700 tonnes in 2019,
2019 Estimate was 67,000 to 221,400 metric tonnes.
2020 Estimate is 27,000 to 110,000 metric tonnes.”
and is now predicted to fall to 54,242 tonnes in 2020.
Less then half the biomass of 2016.
Of note, in hindsight, all these predictions have consistently come in on the low side of the range!
In an earlier post a member stated, “Shaping up to be a okay season....”
“OK” for what I ask?
Last year with an extended season the fishery couldn’t even reach quota.

Anyone care to guess if the Fishery can find enough Herring to reach this year’s smaller quota and what the Quota might be for 2021 based on the DFO science??
 
gone fishin said:
So, the Roe Herring Fishing season begins with DFO reporting, as was the case last year, either “No Fish Found” or “not assessed” in most areas.
If they are waiting for the Herring to migrate from the Southern Vancouver Island area, they will be disappointed.
This is the “science” some place their faith in to ensure the Herring Harvest does not adversely affect our stocks of the future
DFO announced in October, 2019,
the herring population has dwindled from
approximately 129,500 metric tonnes in 2016, to
85,700 tonnes in 2019,
2019 Estimate was 67,000 to 221,400 metric tonnes.
2020 Estimate is 27,000 to 110,000 metric tonnes.”
and is now predicted to fall to 54,242 tonnes in 2020.
Less then half the biomass of 2016.
Of note, in hindsight, all these predictions have consistently come in on the low side of the range!
In an earlier post a member stated, “Shaping up to be a okay season....”
“OK” for what I ask?
Last year with an extended season the fishery couldn’t even reach quota.

Anyone care to guess if the Fishery can find enough Herring to reach this year’s smaller quota and what the Quota might be for 2021 based on the DFO science??
Click to expand...

Not seeing the doom and gloom in herring,

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/ScR-RS/2020/2020_004-eng.pdf

upload_2020-2-26_9-43-57.png
 
Last edited:
terrin said:
Look at the FN Observations on page 5 & 6 . Doesn't sound very good for stock abundance to me.
Click to expand...

"Strait of Georgia Observations from Q’ul-lhanumutsun Aquatic Resources Society: No herring spawn was observed south of Dodd Narrows in 2019. The Tla’amin Nation report observing a very minimal spawning activity in Powell River in 2019. A single very light spawn occurred in Okeover Inlet with herring eggs occurring on the rocks and seaweed along the beach."

2019: Neck Pt to Dodd Narrows-------Feb 20: NFF

2020: Neck Pt to Dodd Narrows-------Feb 20: 31,550 tons



What a difference a year can make!

upload_2020-2-26_10-15-10.png
 
ChinookExerciser said:
"

What a difference a year can make!

View attachment 50967
Click to expand...

"Not seeing the doom and gloom in herring,"

Good to hear such positive news from someone who is well informed, in and or close to the Herring Roe fishery.
Would it be fair to say the quota will be easily reached this year and stocks next year will be back at the 2016 levels or better?
 
gone fishin said:
"Not seeing the doom and gloom in herring,"

Good to hear such positive news from someone who is well informed, in and or close to the Herring Roe fishery.
Would it be fair to say the quota will be easily reached this year and stocks next year will be back at the 2016 levels or better?
Click to expand...

Don't bother engaging. I don't always agree with you guys, but don't want too see you guys get played. It isn't worth look at other threads you will see the pattern.
 
When I was a kid growing up in Yellow Point in the gulf the spawns were large and like clock work every year with in a few weeks, they used to have commercial openings and at night it looked like a large lit up city out front of our house it was nuts that amount of boats and harvesting going on. Now my dad still lives there and spawns if they happen are tiny little pockets here and there a crumb of what they used to be.

Folks that haven't been around the water much need graphs but those who grew up at the waters edge in one location for an extended period of time have seen the decline and what has driven those declines right in front of there eyes. DFO need to follow the local advise of the people on the ground that are watching these changes happen and that observed contributors to the problem when making decisions. Sure there's science but let's get back to the basics and quite over thinking things here, if you allow over harvesting of any specie whether it's on land or in the water the numbers numbers will decline.
 
Last edited:
uclueletcharters said:
When I was a kid growing up in Yellow Point in the gulf the spawns were large and like clock work every year with in a few weeks, they used to have commercial openings and at night it looked like a large lit up city out front of our house it was nuts that amount of boats and harvesting going on. Now my dad still lives there and spawns if they happen are tiny little pockets here and there a crumb of what they used to be.
Folks that haven't been around the water much need graphs but those who grew up at the waters edge in one location for an extended period of time have seen the decline and what has driven those declines right in front of there eyes. DFO need to follow the local advise of the people on the ground that are watching these changes happen and that observed contributors to the problem when making decisions. Sure there's science but let's get back to the basics and quite over thinking things here, if you allow over harvesting of any specie whether it's on land or in the water the numbers numbers will decline.
Click to expand...

When I was a kid and right up to a few years ago, you could jig herring in the Gorge (Victoria Harbor), Jig Herring in the Wain Rock Area (Brentwood), Jig Herring in Active or Porlier Pass and many other S. Van. Is. areas.
From first hand knowledge I can say Herring Balls were common place off Discovery Island and the flats in March.
Some might say the sport fishermen jigging all these Herring for personal consumption or bait wiped them out???
Some will say harvesting the Herring for an overseas market for profit by a small number of people is more important???
I still ask.
After this year what will the level of Herring be in the one and only area in B.C. that remains open and what does the future hold if we continue to maximize the harvest of this most important part of our ocean food chain?
 
I have two genuine questions.

#1- What is the size and age composition of today's observed biomass,and how does that compare to so called historical composition?

#2 part A - Is DFO conducting enough post spawn dive tests to observe spawn layers and ensure enough spawn is succeeding?
Part B - Are these DFO dives still only being conducted in areas of commercial harvest?
 
Last edited:
Feels a bit like the twilight zone in here these days.

Not a word about chinook regulations and a mountainous debate about herring.
 
wildmanyeah said:
Feels a bit like the twilight zone in here these days.

Not a word about chinook regulations and a mountainous debate about herring.
Click to expand...

It is ok. People are completely allowed to voice there opinions on here on each side of debate. You just have to go around the games that certain people are playing on here. Better just to post around, and not engage. If you notice see how the thread grows larger almost as if it being driven that way. Look for the pattern.
 
Last edited:
75k tons assessed so far


ROE HERRING INFORMATION BULLETIN: 15

DATE: March 1, 2020

STRAIT OF GEORGIA

AREA 14
Shelter Pt to Cape Lazo-------Feb 29: NFF
E.C. Denman Island------------Mar 1: 5,000 tons
TEST:Feb 26am on 1,500 tons 1.5NM NE of Komas Bluff: 10.25%; 19.5cm; 50m:56f;
38-4-14-0-2;(27.0gm:93.3gm)
Lambert Ch. to Chrome Is------Mar 1: 15,000 tons
Test:Feb 29am on 800 tons Chrome Island: 6.2%; 18.3cm; 79m:53f; 32-4-17-0-3;
(19.4gm:74.1gm)
E.C. Hornby Is----------------Mar 1: 800 tons
TEST:Feb 28pm on 200 tons 3/4NM NE of Cape Gurney: 5.7%; 18.5cm; 64m:47f; 26-14-
8-0-7;(22.1gm:85.1gm)
Tribune Bay/Lower Hornby------Mar 1: NFF
TEST:Feb 21pm on 500 tons Norris Rocks: 0%;16.8cm;70m:71F;0-0-74-0-52;
(0gm:48.2gm)
Upper Baynes Sd---------------Mar 1: NFF
Lower Baynes Sd---------------Feb 28: Scratches
Mapleguard to Nile Cr---------Feb 29: NFF
Nile Creek to French Cr-------Feb 29: 400 tons
French Cr to NW Bay-----------Mar 1: 5,000 tons (excluding NW Bay)
TEST:Feb 27am on 400 tons Northwest Bay:0.4%; 17.8cm; 67m:65f;2-1-62-0-23;
(19.4gm:64.4gm)

TOTAL AREA 14: ~35,000 - assessment incomplete


AREA 17 NORTH
Dorcas Pt/Schooner Cove-------Mar 1: 2,500 tons
Inner Nanoose-----------------Not assessed
Outer Nanoose-----------------Mar 1: 4,000 tons
TEST:Mar 1am on 500 tons 1nm NE of Blunden Pt.: 3.0%; 18.7cm; 80m:66f;19-6-44-0-
0;(17.4gm:67.1gm)
Blunden to Neck Point---------Feb 29: 350 tons
Neck Pt to Dodd Narrows-------Feb 27: 20,000 tons
TEST:Feb27am on 300 tons in Northumberland Channel; roe not assessed; avg size
16.3cm

TOTAL AREA 17N: ~27,000 tons - assessment incomplete


AREA 17 SOUTH
Porlier Pass ----------------Feb 26: 4,000 tons
Trincolmali Channel----------Feb 27: 8,000 tons


Total Area 17S: ~12,000 - assessment incomplete


TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: ~75,000 tons - assessment incomplete
 
New update down 6000 tons to 69,000 tons
TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: ~69,000 tons - assessment incomplete

A 2.1 NM medium intensity spawn was observed off Seal Bay south of Kitty
Coleman this morning. Assessment is ongoing but no significant backup of fish
identified yet. Less fish sounded around the east coast of Denman Island this
morning but heavy bird and sea lion activity observed. A gillnet vessel is
sounding in the shallower areas this morning and didn't find any significant
amount of fish. Approximately 100 tons of herring sounded in upper Baynes Sound
this morning between Henry Bay and Comox Bar. A test in Lambert Channel this
morning had a roe yield of 6.8%. Increasing amount of fish sounded off the east
coast of Hornby Island between Flora Islet and Whaling Station Bay.

A spawn flight is in progress. A 2.1 NM medium intensity spawn was observed off
Seal Bay south of Kitty Coleman. Next spawn flight planned for Wednesday March
4 in the morning.
 
Further to Terrin's post.
The Herring "science" is amazing.
Can someone help me with this please...We must be reading the daily DFO emails on the Herring stock for Strait of George incorrectly.
They appear to be determining how many tons of Herring are in the water by doing fly byes and sounding.
How is it the size estimate can go backwards??
The total Herring stocks in the only area where the fishery is open reports as follows;

March 1st Herring Estimate.
TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: ~75,000 tons - assessment incomplete
Ops Centre Fishery PAC / Centre des peches du Pacifique (DFO/MPO) <DFO.OpsCentreFisheryPacific-CentreOpsPechePacifique.MPO@canada.ca>
March 3rd Estimate
TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: ~69,000 tons - assessment incomplete
Ops Centre Fishery PAC / Centre des peches du Pacifique (DFO/MPO) <DFO.OpsCentreFisheryPacific-CentreOpsPechePacifique.MPO@canada.ca>
 
fogged in said:
Further to Terrin's post.
The Herring "science" is amazing.
Can someone help me with this please...We must be reading the daily DFO emails on the Herring stock for Strait of George incorrectly.
They appear to be determining how many tons of Herring are in the water by doing fly byes and sounding.
How is it the size estimate can go backwards??
The total Herring stocks in the only area where the fishery is open reports as follows;

March 1st Herring Estimate.
TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: ~75,000 tons - assessment incomplete
Ops Centre Fishery PAC / Centre des peches du Pacifique (DFO/MPO) <DFO.OpsCentreFisheryPacific-CentreOpsPechePacifique.MPO@canada.ca>
March 3rd Estimate
TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: ~69,000 tons - assessment incomplete
Ops Centre Fishery PAC / Centre des peches du Pacifique (DFO/MPO) <DFO.OpsCentreFisheryPacific-CentreOpsPechePacifique.MPO@canada.ca>
Click to expand...
The vessels move around the area and the fish have tails. They report on what they see over a time periods.
 
gone fishin said:
So, the Roe Herring Fishing season begins with DFO reporting, as was the case last year, either “No Fish Found” or “not assessed” in most areas.
If they are waiting for the Herring to migrate from the Southern Vancouver Island area, they will be disappointed.
This is the “science” some place their faith in to ensure the Herring Harvest does not adversely affect our stocks of the future
DFO announced in October, 2019,
the herring population has dwindled from
approximately 129,500 metric tonnes in 2016, to
85,700 tonnes in 2019,
2019 Estimate was 67,000 to 221,400 metric tonnes.
2020 Estimate is 27,000 to 110,000 metric tonnes.”
and is now predicted to fall to 54,242 tonnes in 2020.
Less then half the biomass of 2016.
Of note, in hindsight, all these predictions have consistently come in on the low side of the range!
In an earlier post a member stated, “Shaping up to be a okay season....”
“OK” for what I ask?
Last year with an extended season the fishery couldn’t even reach quota.

Anyone care to guess if the Fishery can find enough Herring to reach this year’s smaller quota and what the Quota might be for 2021 based on the DFO science??
Click to expand...

it’s not just about catching a quota it is about quality as well. We could have easily caught the quota last year if it was just about killing fish. If the quality is not good enough we pull the nets and leave the fish.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

SpringVelocity
Southern Resident Whales - New Study Released Nature, Extinction in 75-100 years
Replies
22
Views
2K
PMac91
P
Whole in the Water
Concerns about herring kills at B.C. fish farms
Replies
26
Views
2K
Fishing?
F
OldBlackDog
DFO Cuts meetings with Sportsfishers.
Replies
4
Views
938
Unreel
Unreel
Adler
Petition for Marked Selective Fishery and Mass Marking
Replies
17
Views
2K
Ryan A
Ryan A
Doug
DFO Minister Announcement.
Replies
34
Views
4K
Whole in the Water
Whole in the Water
Back
Top