Fisheries Pêches and Oceans et Océans DFO Science Pacific Region Stock Status Report C6-12 (1999)

Fig. 1. Neon flying , Ommastrephes bartrami. Fig. 2. Coastal British Columbia, Background showing the boundaries of Canada’s Pacific Fishery Conservation Zone Neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartrami) are large oceanic found in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In the North Pacific, they Summary in subtropical waters in the winter, and juveniles migrate northward to near the subarctic boundary to · Neon flying squid are a highly migratory feed in the summer and fall. Flying squid generally oceanic that enter B.C. waters in aggregate near cold-water fronts when feeding near the surface at night and descend to depths greater the summer and fall. than 300 metres during the day. Flying squid are · A pilot commercial fishery has explored distributed in or near British Columbia waters from the feasibility of an automated jig fishery July to September. since 1996. · Catch has been lower than anticipated, Neon flying squid were the target species of Asian driftnet fisheries in the North Pacific from the late and effort has been lower than initial 1970s until the early 1990s. Landings peaked in expressions of interest by industry 1989 at approximately 357,000 t, and averaged indicated. 265,625 t annually between 1980 and 1990. · The fishery will continue as a pilot for Experimental fisheries using driftnets and automated jigging machines between 1979 and 1991 indicated the present. that fishable aggregations of flying squid were available in or near B.C. waters in the late summer Species Biology and fall.

This is one of a number of fisheries diversification Flying squid undergo a cyclic migration initiatives underway in B.C.. Exploratory jig fishing from spawning grounds in the Subtropical for flying squid was undertaken in B.C. in 1996 via a Pacific northward into productive Subarctic partnership arrangement between industry and the Boundary waters to feed and grow, followed federal and provincial governments. The objective of by a southward migration of mature or the agreement was to assess the feasibility of an automated jig fishery off the B.C. coast, both inside maturing squid back in to Subtropical and outside of Canada’s 200-mile fisheries waters. conservation zone.

December 1999 Pacific Region Neon Flying Squid

Flying squid live for approximately a year, depth, then retrieve them with a regular during which growth is extremely rapid. jigging motion. The squid are caught on the Researchers have proposed varied jigs, and are released from the gear as they combinations of spawning cohorts, and are lifted aboard the vessel. some suggest that the eastern and western North Pacific each have separate stocks. Squid are moved from the machines to a Females grow to 60 cm length and central processing area, where they are 5.3 kg, while males are somewhat smaller. cleaned, separated into various products (mantles, wings and tentacles) and quickly Mating and spawning are separate acts. frozen to ensure maximum quality. The Males mature earlier in the season, and at a refuse is frozen for sale as bait. smaller size, than females. Males pass spermatophores to females, which are stored The experimental pilot fishery is managed in the mantle cavity until the female ripens under a total allowable catch of 1,500 t, and spawns. Egg masses are likely spawned approximately 1% of the long term average in midwater. Fecundity has been estimated yield of the historic North Pacific fishery. at 350,000 to 3.6 million eggs per female, depending on size. Both males and females Fishers are given authority to fish under a are thought to die soon after spawning. scientific licence, and a licence to fish or Larvae are pelagic and grow quickly during tranship fish in waters other than Canadian the northward migration. fisheries waters. Eligible vessels must be equipped with automated jigging machinery, Neon flying squid eat small high-wattage lighting, and an at-sea (such as myctophids and ) and squid, processing and storage capacity, and be including smaller individuals of the same capable of high-seas trips of at least 3 species. In turn, flying squid serve as prey weeks. Ten licences were approved in 1996, for , , , , marine and this was increased to 21 in 1997 and mammals and seabirds 1998. Three other oceanic squid species were added to the pilot in 1997: the The Fishery schoolmaster gonate squid (); the 8-armed squid ( Fishers attempt to locate shoals of squid borealis); and the boreal clubhook squid using acoustic sounders and oceanographic (Onychoteuthis borealijaponica). patterns, primarily sea surface temperature. Fishing occurs primarily at night, when a Catch and Effort powerful array of lights are used to attract squid to the fishing vessels. In recent years, Relatively few licences were actively fished continuous fishing resetting the gear at great during the first 3 years of the pilot fishery. depths during the day was attempted. This is a reflection of many licence-eligible vessels continued involvement in traditional The fishery utilizes automated jigging fishing opportunities, such as groundfish machines developed for the Japanese quotas and large Fraser River sockeye fishery. Each machine has two lines, which abundance in 1997. Catch rates increased in are configured with a variable number of 1998, but no fishing occurred after Oct. 1, jigs and a large weight on the end. The due to inclement weather. machine lower the lines to a desired fishing

2 Pacific Region Neon Flying Squid

Vessels participating in the pilot fishery report catch, effort, location, oceanographic, and weather information on harvest logbooks. Verified landings of various Resource Status products (mantles, tentacles, wings) which are processed, packed and frozen at sea are This is a new fishery, with little information converted to whole squid weights using available on stock size, biological conversion factors determined by observers. characteristics or fisheries interactions. Current emphasis is on development of Table 1. Season and participation in the catch, effort, bycatch and biological data to 1996-98 pilot flying squid fishery. monitor fishery performance, and develop methods to assess stock status and responses Year Season # Days of stocks to fishing. Vessel Fished s Outlook 1996 Jul 15-Oct 31 6 76 1997 May 12-Dec 31 4 19 The potential of this fishery remains 1998 Aug 1-Dec 31 4 84 unproven. Some fishers are beginning to recognize oceanic conditions and acoustic Effort is measured in jig-hours. Each information that may be correlated with double-spooled machine has two jigging squid abundance. Experimentation with lines, each usually equipped with 10 to 20 underwater lighting and daytime fishing in jigs per line. Thus, a vessel operating three 1998 led to the highest production in the machines rigged with 20 jigs per line for one brief history of the fishery. Further hour expends 120 jig-hours of effort. development of these techniques and increased effort in the fishery will likely Table 2. Catch and effort in the 1996-98 continue to increase production. pilot flying squid fishery. For more Information Year Total Effort Landings (jig-hr) (t) Contact: Graham E. Gillespie 1996 180,418 7.4 Stock Assessment Division 1997 32,519 1.3 Pacific Biological Station 1998 67,315 63.0 Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5K6 Tel: (250) 756-7215 Concerns arose during discussions of fishery Fax: (250) 756-7138 development regarding potential bycatch of E-Mail: fish species, with particular concern [email protected] surrounding salmonid bycatch, which was an issue in the high seas driftnet fishery. To References date bycatch rates have been extremely low, consisting primarily of blue sharks Bernard, F.R. 1980. Preliminary report on (Prionace glauca) and (Brama the potential commercial squid of British japonica). Columbia. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 942. 51 p.

3 Pacific Region Neon Flying Squid

Gillespie, G.E. 1997. Review of biology, This report is available: fisheries and assessments of oceanic squids, particularly Ommastrephes PSARC Secretariat bartrami Onychoteuthis borealijaponica, Pacific Biological Station and Berryteuthis Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5K6 magister. Can. Stock Assess. Secret. Phone: (250) 756-7208 Res. Doc. 97/143. Fax: (250) 756-7209 Email: [email protected] Gillespie, G.E. and W. Shaw. 1997. Internet address: (www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas) Review of the 1996 pilot commercial fishery for neon flying squid ISSN 1480-4913 (for English series) (Ommastrephes bartrami) off the west ISSN 1480-4921 (for French series) coast of Canada. Can. Ind. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 241. 18 p. La version française est disponible à l’adresse ci-dessus. Shaw, W. and B.D. Smith. 1995. 1990 and 1991 experimental commercial jig fishery for neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartrami) off the west coast of British Columbia. Can. Tech. Correct citation for this publication Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2045. 68 p. DFO, 1999. Neon flying squid. DFO Science Sloan, N.A. 1991. Experimental fishing for Stock Status Report C6-12 (1999). the flying squid, Ommastrephes bartrami (Leseuer, 1821), off British Columbia. J. Res. 10(2): 373- 377.

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