Prawn Fishery - Uu-a

Prawn Fishery
Primer
K
nown to Nuu-chah-nulth speakers as “
,” the spot prawn is the largest shrimp
commercially harvested on Canada’s west coast. Like other seafood, prawns are important to
Nuu-chah-nulth communities. Many Nations with territory in Barkley, Clayoquot, Nootka, and
Kyuquot Sounds harvest prawns for food and ceremonial use. Some Nuu-chah-nulth Nations also take
part in the commercial prawn fishery through DFO’s Allocation Transfer Program. Although available
year round when frozen, fresh and live prawns are usually only available for purchase during the spot prawn
commercial fishery, usually between May and July.
Commercial Fishery
After
getting started in the mid-1970s, British
Columbia’s prawn fishery grew quickly. Currently there are
253 licences eligible for the fishery, and most are fished every
year. Licence holders live throughout the coast, with the largest
concentration on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Three Nuuchah-nulth Nations (Ahousaht, Huu-ay-aht, and Tseshaht) hold
communal licences for catching prawns commercially.
Since 1979, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)
has controlled the prawn fishery through a series of management
actions that restrict harvest by limiting the number of traps that can
be fished and the length of the fishing season, by requiring gear to
be hauled only once day during daylight hours, and by setting a
minimum escapement of adult female prawns. To set this number,
observers examine on-board samples of commercial prawn
catches and compare them to a pre-determined monthly index.
DFO closes the fishery when the average number of females
caught in 24 hours for a standard trap falls below the target
index for that month. This regulation ensures there are enough
females to spawn.
When commercial prawn fishing occurs in areas
where there is significant fishing by First Nation and/or
recreational fishers, DFO sets the spawner index for the
commercial fishery higher. The higher index means that
some prawns will be available for First Nations and
recreational harvesters.
To catch prawns, harvesters usually set traps on
long-lines at depths of 40 to 100 metres (131 to 328
feet). They return later to harvest the prawns and
release any fish trapped by mistake. Up to a few
years ago, about 90% of all prawns caught in BC
were exported to Japan, but recent price reductions
in the Japanese market have resulted in more spot
prawns being available to purchase in BC.
Recreational/ Sport Fishery
DFO manages the recreational fishery through licensing,
trap limits, daily bag limits, and a spawner index. All
recreational fishers must purchase an annual “Tidal Waters
Sport Fishing Licence.” Each licence holder can
fish up to four traps and keep 200 prawns (or a
combination of prawns and shrimp) each day.
Fishers are allowed to have no more than
irst Nations fishing for
two days worth of catch in their possession
food and ceremonial use
(400 prawns) at any time.
has the first priority after
Like the commercial fishery, the
In British Columbia, spot prawns
conservation. To date, DFO
sports
fishery is subject to management
start their lives as males and
has not required winter
closures
based on the spawner index.
closure of First Nations food
transform into females after
If the spawner index falls below the
fisheries when recreational
about three years of life. They
seasonal
target, DFO closes the area for
fishing areas are closed. One
go on to live one more year
recreational
fishing. These closures usually
of the reasons for this is because
in their female form.
occur in the fall or winter. DFO uses data
the spawner index that triggers the
collected
by prawn surveys conducted at these
recreational closures is still above the
times
to
determine
if an area needs to be closed.
minimum spawner index required for
conservation. DFO does recommend
According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program,
that First Nations fish outside the closures
BC spot prawns are a “best choice” for seafood because their populaand release all egg-bearing females. DFO
also provides information on areas where tions are healthy and abundant, and because the fishery maintains
prawns are likely to be abundant outside of
a low bycatch of other species. BC spot prawns rate higher than any
the recreational fishery closures.
Food and Ceremonial
Fishery
F
Him or Her?
Uu-a-thluk
P.O. Box 1383
Port Alberni, B.C.
V9Y 7M2
Ph: 250.724.5757
Fax: 250.724.2172
[email protected]
other prawn fishery in the world.
Uu-a-thluk
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