DFO continues to fish herring in the Strait of Georgia to the brink of extinction. If you agree with SIPS that its time for this fishery to end before its too late, please write to DFO with your comments NOW. Deadline is November 13.
Note that there are two herring fisheries. The one up for approval now is the Food and Bait Fishery (proposed quota 3,000 tons) which will continue for several months. The second is the roe fishery which intercepts fish just before they spawn, usually in April. There will be an opportunity to comment on the roe fishery (proposed quota likely to be 5,000 tons) in the New Year. Both these fisheries need to stop until numbers of herring recover. The numbers may already be so low that recovery will take a very long time, as last year less than 1,000 tons was actually caught.
The Strait of Georgia Herring fishery is the ONLY herring fishery on the BC Coast that is still open. All others are closed because of over-fishing.
The DFO estimate of total herring biomass in the Strait of Georgia is 80,228 tons. Based on a take of 10% (as decreed by the Minister) the total take would be 8,000 tons. The proposed take for the food and bait fishery is 2,100 tons and for the special use fishery is 902 tons for a total of 3,002 tons leaving about 5,000 tons for the roe fishery.
Comments on the draft plan may be submitted to DFO before end of day on Monday November 13, 2023.
Eamon Miyagi - (250) 203-2543 Email: eamon.miyagi@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
SIPS will be preparing a response to these plans which will be posted on the web site very soon. The roe fishery will be the subject of a separate notice that will be posted for public comment in early 2024. SIPS is advocating for a take of 0 tons for all fisheries until the herring have recovered.
Below is the official notice from DFO notifying the public of the proposed herring plans for the Food and Bait Fishery and for the Special Use Fishery for 2023-2024 for the Strait of Georgia.
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:45:41 +0000
Subject: FN1113-Draft 2023/2024 Food & Bait and Special Use Pacific Herring Commercial Fishing Plans Available for Review and Comment
Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Herring: Food and Bait,
COMMERCIAL - Herring Special Use
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN1113-Draft 2023/2024 Food & Bait and Special Use Pacific Herring Commercial Fishing Plans Available for Review and Comment
Fisheries and Ocean Canada is soliciting comments on the DRAFT 2023/2024 Food & Bait and Special Use Pacific Herring Commercial Fishery Plans. Following the comment period, these plans will be included as appendices in the full 2023/2024 Pacific Herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP), which will also be available for review and comment.
The plans can be downloaded directly here.
Alternatively, the plans can be obtained by contacting the lead fishery managers; listed below.
The 2023/2024 Food and Bait and Special Use Pacific Herring fisheries are anticipated to open on November 24, 2023. Food and Bait and Special Use Herring fishery opportunities are expected in the Strait of Georgia only.
The Special Use fishery will have a proposed overall quota of 902 short tons. The proposed initial quota for the Food and Bait fishery is 2100 short tons, which includes a designated ZM licence for charities at the request of licence holders. The Special Use and Food and Bait fishery quota will be part of the overall allocation for the Strait of Georgia. Changes to the distribution of quota amongst fisheries may occur in-season but will be accounted for in the overall Strait of Georgia quota decisions provided in the consolidated 2023/24 Pacific Herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan.
As provided in the Draft Food and Bait Commercial Plan, each eligible seine applicant will have an equal share of the quota in the Strait of Georgia area. Any in season quota adjustments will be provided by way of Fishery Notice and will be in effect at the times, areas, and levels specific in the fishery notice.
Details regarding the Food and Bait and Special Use herring licensing process will be provided in a separate fishery notice. The development of the consolidated 2023/2024 Pacific Herring IFMP and associated appendices will be undertaken with a target date for release of the consolidated draft IFMP in late October. Amendments to the Food and Bait or Special Use Commercial Plans, including final catch targets will be reflected in the consolidated draft IFMP.
Please provide any comments on the draft plans to the lead fishery managers below, by end of day on Monday November 13, 2023:
Food & Bait:
Eamon Miyagi - (250) 203-2543
Email: eamon.miyagi@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
