Roe Herring Catch Sampling Land Based

TITLE: Roe Herring Catch Sampling Land Based

BACKGROUND

British Columbia herring stocks are managed as five major and two minor stock areas. Accordingly, catch and survey information is collected independently for each of these seven areas and science advice is provided on the same scale. All available biological data on spawn deposition, size and age composition of the spawning stocks, as well as commercial harvest data, are used to determine current abundance levels.

Biological samples are collected from both commercial catch and from the test fishery program. The herring samples collected are processed and the following data is obtained: Fish length, weight, sex, age, and maturity. Subsequently these sources of data are compiled and used as the information on mean weight-at-age and catch-at-age data that are the essential input data for the annual stock assessment model for BC herring.

The commercial roe herring fishery occurs in five stock areas determined by major herring stocks; Prince Rupert District, Central Coast, Haida Gwaii, West Coast of Vancouver Island, and Strait of Georgia. Roe herring fisheries are only planned for stock areas that are forecast to be above the commercial fishery cut-off, and depend on available abundance. The roe herring fishery takes place as the herring gather to spawn during late February to mid or late March in southern BC, and mid- March to mid-April in northern BC. Opening dates and times for the commercial fishery are announced on the fishing grounds once the roe has matured to optimum quality. Specific fishing locations are determined by major concentrations of fish and the potential for the highest roe yield.

This contract is to conduct catch sampling of all roe (commercial) herring fisheries in British Columbia. These samples are a critical part of the annual stock assessment for BC herring.

SCOPE OF WORK

For the contractor to conduct catch sampling of all open roe fisheries on the BC Coast. Specifically, the contractor should obtain 20 representative samples from each seine opening, and 15 representative samples from each gillnet opening, such that the sampling reflects both the temporal and spatial distribution of the fisheries. No duplicate samples.

Samples of roe herring landings will be collected in Vancouver and Prince Rupert. Occasional sampling may also be required at Ucluelet, Port Hardy, or French Creek, in accordance with the following instructions. These samples will then be used by DFO as part of the annual herring stock assessment.

CONTRACT PERIOD

The contract is for a period of one (1) years, from the contract award to January 31, 2024 with the option to extend the contract for four (4) one (1) year period.