Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: STRAIT OF GEORGIA HERRING IN STEEP DECLINE
Retrieved on:
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
The herring population in the Strait of Georgia has endured years of excessive quotas, based on overestimated biomass calculated using a post-industrial fishing baseline.
Key Points:
- The herring population in the Strait of Georgia has endured years of excessive quotas, based on overestimated biomass calculated using a post-industrial fishing baseline.
- According to Victoria Postlethwaite, DFO's Regional Herring Officer, the 2019 quota was set based on a predicted return of 122,291 tonnes, but only 85,700 tonnes returned.
- Herring once spawned throughout the Strait of Georgia and Johnstone Strait, but only one area of spawn remains, located between Qualicum Beach and Comox.
- In their management approach, DFO does not address the severely reduced geographic range and historical abundance of herring in the Strait of Georgia.