PACIFIC REGION 1999/2000 MANAGEMENT PLAN RED SEA URCHIN This Red Sea Urchin Management Plan is intended for general purposes only. Where there is a discrepancy between the Plan and the regulations, the 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. These are available through the Internet at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/communic/policy/dnload_e.htm RECORD OF MANAGEMENT PLAN REVISIONS Plan: 1999/2000 Red Sea Urchin Plan Date last revised: 01 June 1999 Version Number: 1 # Date Page Subject Revision Details Contact ADDITIONAL NOTES: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA CONTACTS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION......2 2. SHELLFISH - GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ..........................................................................4 3. HISTORY OF THE COMMERCIAL RED SEA URCHIN FISHERY....................................4 4. ENFORCEMENT PLAN........................................................................................................6 5. ABORIGINAL FISHERIES PLAN.........................................................................................6 6. RECREATIONAL FISHING PLAN.......................................................................................6 7. DEFINITION OF TERMS FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING PLAN .......................................7 8. COMMERCIAL FISHING PLAN ..........................................................................................8 8.1. Management Changes and Highlights for 1999/2000.................................................8 8.2. Quotas, Open Times and Seasonal Closures ..............................................................8 8.3. Research and Permanent Area Closures...................................................................12 8.4. Licensing ................................................................................................................21 8.5. Size Limit ...............................................................................................................22 8.6. Tagging of Red Sea Urchin Containers....................................................................22 8.7. Designated Landing Ports .......................................................................................23 8.8. Notification Procedure Before and After Fishing Red Sea Urchins...........................23 8.9. Fishing Multiple Quota Areas..................................................................................24 8.10. Notification Procedure Prior To Landing Red Sea Urchins....................................24 8.11. Catch Validation ...................................................................................................24 8.12. Catch and Fishing Data .........................................................................................25 8.13. Quota Overage and Relinquishment of Claim ........................................................27 8.14. Conditions and Procedures for Red Sea Urchin Quota Overage Transfer...............27 8.15. Other Restrictions and General Information...........................................................28 9. ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONTACTS ............................................................................29 10. ATTACHMENTS...............................................................................................................30 1999/2000 Red Sea Urchin Management Plan Page 1 of 30 1. FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA CONTACTS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION COMMERCIAL SHELLFISH INFORMATION (604) 666-2828 SOUTH COAST SHELLFISH INFORMATION (for Areas 11 to 27) (250) 756-7021 OBSERVE, RECORD & REPORT 1-800-465-4336 SHELLFISH TOXIN UPDATE (24 HRS.) (604) 666-2828 Fisheries Management Regional Shellfish Coordinator Bruce Adkins (250) 756-7285 Fisheries Management Coordinator - Comox Byron Koke (250) 339-2809 Fisheries Management Coordinator - Parksville Randy Webb (250) 954-2675 Fisheries Management Coordinator - Pr. Rupert Dale Gueret (250) 627-3404 Harvest Management Unit, Areas 1 to 10 Juanita Rogers (250) 627-3007 Coastal B.C. North Room 202, 417 2nd Avenue West Prince Rupert, B.C. V8J 1G8 Harvest Management Unit, Areas 11 to 27 Guy Parker (250) 756-7230 Coastal B.C. South 3225 Stephenson Point Road Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 1K3 Harvest Management Unit, Areas 28 and 29 Kim West (604) 666-6390 Fraser River/Interior Area 610 Derwent Way, Annacis Island New Westminster, B.C. V3M 5P8 Science Branch Pacific Biological Station Alan Campbell (250) 756-7124 Hammond Bay Road Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5K6 Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fish Inspection Directorate Klaus Schallié (604) 666-4427 Molluscan Shellfish Program Specialist extension 277 2250 Boundary Road Burnaby, B.C. V5M 4L9 Page 2 of 30 1999/2000 Red Sea Urchin Management Plan Commercial Licensing Pacific Fishery Licence Unit (604) 666-0566 480-555 West Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5G3 Pacific Fishery Licence Unit (250) 627-3413 417 2nd Avenue West Prince Rupert, B.C. V8J 1G8 Pacific Fishery Licence Unit (250) 754-0400 60 Front Street Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5H7 Recreational Fisheries Coastal B.C. South Coordinator Terry Gjernes (250) 756-7192 Coastal B.C. North Coordinator Elmer Fast (250) 627-3409 Fraser River Coordinator Devona Adams (604) 666-6512 Aboriginal Fisheries Coastal B.C. South Manager Rebecca Reid (250) 756-7296 Coastal B.C. North Manager Randy Barnhart (250) 627-3420 Fraser River Manager Bert Ionson (604) 666-2032 Conservation and Protection 1999/2000 Red Sea Urchin Enforcement Plan Dave Knapton (250) 627-3429 Other Contacts Environment Canada Growing Water Quality Classification & Surveys Hal Nelson (604) 666-2947 B.C. Ministry of Fisheries Seafood Planning & Development Al Castledine (250) 387-9574 Red Sea Urchin Service Bureau D&D Pacific Fisheries Ltd. (604) 886-4819 Box 1445 Gibsons, B.C., V0N 1V0 Observer Telephone Number (800) 775-5505 1999/2000 Red Sea Urchin Management Plan Page 3 of 30 2. SHELLFISH - GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 2.1. To ensure conservation and protection of invertebrate stocks and their habitat through the application of scientific management principles applied in a risk averse and precautionary manner based on the best scientific advice available. 2.2. To meet the federal Crown’s obligations regarding aboriginal fisheries for food, social and ceremonial purposes. 2.3. To develop sustainable fisheries through partnership and co-management arrangements with client groups and stakeholders to share in decision making, responsibilities, costs and benefits. 2.4. To develop fishing plans and co-operative research programs which will contribute to improving the knowledge base and understanding of the resource. 2.5. To consider the goals of stakeholders with respect to social, cultural and economic value of the fishery. 2.6. To consider health and safety in the development and implementation of management plans, fishery openings and closures. 2.7. To consider opportunity for the development of the aquaculture industry. 2.8. To provide opportunities for a recreational fishery for red sea urchin. 3. HISTORY OF THE COMMERCIAL RED SEA URCHIN FISHERY The red sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) is one of three sea urchin species historically fished in British Columbia waters. Red and green sea urchins are fished under authority of a limited category Z licence, category “ZC” for reds and category “ZA” for greens. Purple sea urchins were fished under scientific permit from 1990 to 1992. The current assessment of purple sea urchin stocks does not support a commercial fishery. Sea urchins are harvested for their roe (gonads) which is extracted at processing plants for shipment to fresh markets. Red sea urchins are removed from the ocean floor by divers using short aluminium rakes. Packer vessels and trucks deliver the product fresh to plants for processing. The gonads are extracted, processed and marketed almost exclusively in Japan, where it is sold as ‘uni’. A smaller market is developing in other Asian countries and in North America. The yield of roe from a whole animal ranges from 5 to 15% of total body weight. Fishery timing, through scheduled opened areas, is critical in order to maintain optimum value for sea urchin roe and to maintain Canada’s position in the Japanese market. Harvest schedules are determined in consultation with the Pacific Urchin Harvesters Association (PUHA) and sea urchin processors. The south coast fishery takes place primarily during the period of traditional peak market demand avoiding mid-year months. The north coast fishery is scheduled to provide a continuous year-round supply of high quality product. Page 4 of 30 1999/2000 Red Sea Urchin Management Plan The red sea urchin dive fishery began in the 1970’s and has grown rapidly since 1982. The fishery is considered “data limited” and while stock assessments are undertaken in many areas, the fishery continues to be managed under a precautionary regime. Initial area quotas were largely arbitrary and precautionary. Since 1995, however, the quotas for many areas have been based on survey information and catch data from mandatory harvest logs. Licence limitation was introduced in the red sea urchin fishery in October 1991 when 102 licences were issued. This was a reduction of approximately 46% from number of licences issued in the previous fishing year. This action was taken to curtail an uncontrolled growth that had been observed in the fishery. By 1994, licence appeals had increased the number of licences to 110 and this level of participation has