Sound Science Underpins Minister's Roe Herring Decisions

VANCOUVER, March 17, 2014 /CNW/ - "Fisheries Minister Gail Shea's decision to re-open small scale fisheries on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, the Central Coast and Haida Gwaii was based on sound peer-reviewed science and solid policy," says Greg Thomas, Chair of the Herring Industry Advisory Board (HIAB).

Thomas noted that the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Advisory Report on the stock status for 2013 and 2014 forecast clearly identifies that the populations in the three coastal areas that were closed to commercial fishing have been steadily rebuilding since 2008.  On the West Coast they were 60% above the already precautionary no-fishing rule, in the Central Coast 92% and on Haida Gwaii 240%.

According to the CSAS report, "recruitment and natural mortality are considered to be the most important processes determining the productivity of BC Pacific Herring stocks."  Thomas explains: "Fishing at the very conservative 10% harvest level set by the Minister in these three areas will not risk conservation or future production—according to the science there is virtually no difference between fishing and not fishing."

Thomas notes that nonetheless HIAB has come to agreement with the Council of Haida Nation (CHN) that fishermen will voluntarily agree not to fish off Haida Gwaii in 2014.  "The science for 2014 was peer reviewed and is sound.  We need to make sure it is equally sound for 2015 and so we have come to an agreement with CHN and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to make sure that the strong science continues into the future.  Our part in that was to agree not to fish for one year."

DFO and the herring industry commit over $1 million annually to herring science and have amassed decades of information used in setting harvest decision rules in keeping with DFO's precautionary framework.  In Thomas' view, "DFO herring science is among the best in the world."

The Herring Industry Advisory Board (HIAB) is comprised of gillnet and seine fishermen, crew members and processors.

SOURCE: BC Seafood Alliance

Gregory Thomas, HIAB Chairman, 250.741.6759, [email protected]