PACIFIC REGION INTEGRATED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN SHRIMP TRAWL APRIL 1, 2021 TO MARCH 31, 2022 Smooth Pink Shrimp: Pandalus jordani Sidestripe Shrimp: Pandalopsis dispar This Integrated Fisheries Management Plan is intended for general purposes only. Where there is a discrepancy between the Plan and the Fisheries Act and Regulations, the Act and Regulations are the final authority. A description of Areas and Subareas referenced in this Plan can be found in the Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations. FOREWORD The purpose of this Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) is to identify the main objectives and requirements for the shrimp trawl fishery in the Pacific Region, as well as the management measures that will be used to achieve these objectives. This document also serves to communicate the basic information on the fishery and its management to Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) staff, legislated co-management boards and other stakeholders. This IFMP provides a common understanding of the basic “rules” for the sustainable management of the fisheries resource. This IFMP is not a legally binding instrument which can form the basis of a legal challenge. The IFMP can be modified at any time and does not fetter the Minister's discretionary powers set out in the Fisheries Act. The Minister can, for reasons of conservation or for any other valid reasons, modify any provision of the IFMP in accordance with the powers granted pursuant to the Fisheries Act. Where DFO is responsible for implementing obligations under land claims agreements, the IFMP will be implemented in a manner consistent with these obligations. In the event that an IFMP is inconsistent with obligations under land claims agreements, the provisions of the land claims agreements will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency. 2021/2022 Shrimp Trawl Integrated Fisheries Management Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OVERVIEW ...........................................................................................................................5 1.1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................5 1.2. History......................................................................................................................5 1.3. Type of Fishery and Participants .............................................................................6 1.3.1. First Nations ..............................................................................................6 1.3.2. Recreational ...............................................................................................6 1.3.3. Commercial ...............................................................................................7 1.4. Location of Fishery ..................................................................................................7 1.5. Fishery Characteristics .............................................................................................8 1.6. Governance ..............................................................................................................8 1.7. Consultation .............................................................................................................9 1.8. Approval Process .....................................................................................................9 2. STOCK ASSESSMENT, SCIENCE AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE .....................9 2.1. Biological Synopsis .................................................................................................9 2.2. Ecosystem Interactions ..........................................................................................10 2.3. Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge/Traditional Ecological Knowledge ................10 2.4. Stock Assessment...................................................................................................10 2.5. Precautionary Approach.........................................................................................11 2.6. Stock Scenarios ......................................................................................................11 2.7. Research .................................................................................................................12 3. SOCIAL CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE ..............................................12 3.1. Socio-Economic Profile .........................................................................................12 3.2. Commercial ............................................................................................................12 3.3. Processing ..............................................................................................................15 3.4. Export Market ........................................................................................................16 3.5. Viability and Market Trends ..................................................................................18 3.6. First Nations ...........................................................................................................18 4. MANAGEMENT ISSUES ...................................................................................................19 4.1. Conservation and Sustainability ............................................................................19 4.1.1. Multi-species/Multi-stock Management ..................................................19 4.2. Social, Cultural and Economic ..............................................................................19 4.2.1. First Nations ............................................................................................19 4.2.2. Recreational .............................................................................................19 4.2.3. Commercial .............................................................................................19 4.3. Compliance ............................................................................................................20 4.4. Ecosystem ..............................................................................................................20 4.4.1. Strategic Framework for Fishery Monitoring and Catch Reporting .......20 4.4.2. Bycatch ....................................................................................................21 4.4.3. Gear Impact .............................................................................................22 4.4.4. Forage Species .........................................................................................22 4.4.5. Depleted Species Concerns .....................................................................22 4.4.6. Oceans and Habitat Considerations .........................................................29 5. OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................................38 5.1. National ..................................................................................................................38 2021/22 Shrimp Trawl Integrated Fisheries Management Plan Page 3 of 52 5.2. Pacific Region ........................................................................................................38 5.3. Invertebrate Resource Management ......................................................................39 5.4. Objectives for Pink and Sidestripe Shrimp Trawl .................................................39 5.4.1. Conservation and Sustainability ..............................................................39 5.4.2. Social, Cultural and Economic ................................................................39 5.4.3. Compliance ..............................................................................................40 5.4.4. Ecosystem ................................................................................................40 6. ACCESS AND ALLOCATION ..........................................................................................40 7. MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE DURATION OF THE PLAN .........................41 8. SHARED STEWARDSHIP ARRANGEMENTS ...............................................................42 8.1. Commercial ............................................................................................................42 8.2. Fisheries and Oceans Canada.................................................................................42 9. COMPLIANCE PLAN ........................................................................................................42 9.1. Priorities for 2021/22 .............................................................................................43 9.2. Enforcement Issues and Strategies .........................................................................43 10. 2021/22 PERFORMANCE REVIEW ..................................................................................44 10.1. Conservation and Sustainability ............................................................................44 10.2. Social, Cultural and Economic ..............................................................................44 10.3. Compliance Plan Evaluation Criteria .....................................................................45 10.4. Ecosystem ..............................................................................................................45 11. REFERENCES .....................................................................................................................45