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Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasi)
Certification Units Considered Under this Species:
• SanFranciscoBaygillnet
Summary
Pacificherringarefoundthroughoutthecoastalzone,fromnorthernBajaCalifornia,aroundtherimoftheNorthPacificBasin,toKoreaontheAsiancoast.California’sherringfisheriesoccurintheCrescentCityHarborarea,HumboldtBay,TomalesBay,andSanFranciscoBay.Historicallytheroe-fisheryhasbeenaverysmallexportmarkettoJapan;however,inSanFranciscoBayherringasfreshfishhasbeengaininglocalmarketinterestduetoadesireforlocallyproducedseafood.ThecommercialfisheryisoneofthefewfisheriesinCaliforniathatundergoannualpopulationassessmentsandsubsequentregulatorychange.Thisallowsmanagementtointegratenewinformationandsetharvesttargetsonatimelybasis.Fisherymanagersarecurrentlyworkingtodevelopafisherymodeltoensureharvesttargetsareappropriateandfurthersafeguardthespawningstocksothatoverfishingdoesnotoccur.
Strengths:
• Annualassessmentsareconductedusingfisheryindependentdata
• Conservativeannualharvestquotas;setat≤5%ofspawningbiomasssince2010
• Strongcollaborativeworkingrelationshipbetweenfisherymanagersandfishingindustry (industryfundedthe“HerringResearchAssociation”whichassistsfisherymanagers)
Weaknesses:
• Assessmentmethodsneedtobereviewedtoensuretheyareappropriateformanaging thestock
• Noinformationonretained,bycatchorETPspecies
• Noinformationonhabitatimpactsfromthefishery
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History of the Fishery in California
Biology of the Species
[FromCDFG2006]:Pacificherringarefoundthroughoutthecoastalzone(watersofthecontinentalshelf)fromnorthernBajaCaliforniaontheNorthAmericancoast,aroundtherimoftheNorthPacificBasinandKoreaontheAsiancoast.InCalifornia,herringarefoundoffshoreduringthespringandsummermonthsforagingintheopenocean.BeginningasearlyasOctoberandcontinuingaslateasApril,schoolsofadultherringmigrateinshoretobaysandestuariestospawn.Schoolsfirstappearinthedeepwaterchannelsofbaystoripen(gonadalmaturation)foruptotwoweeks,thengraduallymoveintoshallowareastospawn.Historically,knownspawningareasinCaliforniaincludeSanDiegoBay,SanLuisRiver,MorroBay,ElkhornSlough,SanFranciscoBay,TomalesBay,BodegaBay,RussianRiver,NoyoRiver,ShelterCove,HumboldtBay,andCrescentCityHarbor.ThelargestspawningaggregationsinCaliforniaoccurinSanFranciscoandTomalesBays.Mostofthesespawningareasarecharacterizedashavingreducedsalinity,calmandprotectedwaters,andspawning-substratesuchasmarinevegetationorrockyintertidalareas.Spawningoccursintheintertidalandshallowsubtidalzones,whenmalesreleasemiltintothewatercolumn.
Fecundityis226eggspergramofbodyweight,andalargefemaleherringmaylay40,000to50,000eggs.Spawndepthdistributionisgenerallyshallowerthan30ft(9m),buthasbeenfoundtoadepthof60ft(18.3m)inSanFranciscoBay.Immediatelyafterspawningtheadultherringleavethebay,returningtotheopenocean.Embryos(fertilizedeggs)hatchinapproximately10days,dependingontemperatureandsalinity.Duringtheincubationperiod,embryosarevulnerabletopredationbymarinebirds,fish,andinvertebrates.Theymayalsodiefromdesiccationorfreezingifexposedduringlowtidalcycles.Humaninducedcausesofmortalityatthisstageincludesmotheringcausedbysuspendedsedimentsfromdredging,andtoxicanti-foulingagentssuchascreosoteonpierpilings.Herringembryoshatchintolarvae,whichmetamorphoseintojuvenileherring.Thedistributionoflarvalherringinbaysandestuariesisnotwelldocumented,butjuvenileherringinSanFranciscoBayareusuallyfoundthroughoutthecentralportionofthebaybymid-watertrawlresearchvessels.Juvenilestypicallyremaininthebayuntilsummerorearlyfall,whentheymigratetotheopenocean.
Herringdistributionwhileintheoceanisnotwellunderstood,thoughCanadianresearchconductedonherringinGeorgiaStraight,BritishColumbia(BC)suggeststhat1-and2-yearoldherringoccupyinshorewatersandolderherringoccupyshelfwaters.Someherringreachsexualmaturityatagetwowhentheyareabout7in(18cm)inlength;allaresexuallymatureatagethree.Californiaherringcanliveto9yearsoldandreachamaximumlengthofabout10in(25cm).However,itisextremelyraretofindfishthatareolderthan7yearsofage.
Whileintheocean,adultherringfeedonmacroplanktonsuchascopepodsandeuphausiids.Larvalandjuvenileherringarebelievedtofeedonmolluscanlarvaeandotherzooplanktonwhileinbaysandestuaries.Herringareaforagespeciesforadiversegroupofmarinefishes,birds,andmammals.Spawningeventsinparticularprovideanopportunityforfeeding.Asherringmoveintoshallowwatertospawn,afeedingfrenzymaycommencewhichcanlastforseveraldays.Gulls,cormorants,pelicansandothermarinebirds;CaliforniaandStellarsealions,harborseals,invertebratesandavarietyoffishes(includingsturgeoninSanFranciscoBay)feastonadultherringandembryos.
Commercial Fishery
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Theherringfisheryisprimarilyasac-roefisheryinCalifornia;howeveraportionoftheannualquotaisallocatedtothefreshfishfisheryandherringeggsonkelp(HEOK)fisheryeachyear.Theherringfisheryisregulatedthroughavarietyofmechanisms,includinganannualspawningbiomassassessmenttosetquotas,limitedentrypermitting,seasonalclosures,separationofthefisheryintoplatoons,andgearrestrictions(seeHarvestStrategysectionformoreinformationongearrestrictions).
Inrecentyearsadeclineinthepriceofsac-roehasledtoadeclineineffort.Efforthasremainedrelativelystableoverthepastfiveyears(RyanBartling,personalcomm.,2013).Historicallytherewereasmanyas400permitsissuedtoapproximately100boats,butinrecentyearsthishasdroppedtoapproximately180permitsissuedeachyearto25-35vessels(RyanBartling,personalcomm.,2013;CDFWCommercialLicenseData2000-20121).Althoughherringsac-roepermitsarestillissuedforSanFranciscoBay,HumboldtBay,TomalesBay,andCrescentCityHarbor,thesac-roefishingefforthasonlyoccurredinSanFranciscoBayinrecentyears.Thisisduetodecreasedproductdemandandlowerprice,whichmakesfishingeffortintheotherbayslesseconomicallyviable(RyanBartling,personalcomm.,2013).HistoricallySanFranciscoBayhasaccountedforover90%ofthestatelandings,evenwhenotherbayswereactivelyfished.Totalsac-roelandingsandquotaforSanFranciscoBayareinFigure1.
Theothertwocomponentsofthefishery,thefreshfishfisheryandHEOK,aremuchsmallerandreceiveaminorportionoftheannualquota.Currently,thefreshfishfisheryseasonisopenforabriefperiodbeforethesac-roefisheryopensandforafewofweeksafteritcloses.TheHEOKfisheryoperatesonlyinSanFranciscoBaythroughthewintermonths.Ingeneralthefreshfishfisheryhaslittletonoeffort.Duringthe2012-2013herringfishingseasonnofreshfishwerelandedunderthisfisheryquota(20tons).TheHEOKfisheryishighlyvariableduetoavarietyofreasons(RyanBartlingpersonalcomm.,2013).Thefisherycanreceiveamuchhigherpriceperpoundthanthesacroefishery,butisamuchriskierinvestmentsincethereisthepossibilityofnotlandinganyherringroe.Thisfisheryhasa10permitlimitandvesselsinthegillnetfisheryhavetheoptiontoconverttheirsac-roepermitstoaHEOKpermitannually.Figure2showslandingsdatafortheHEOKfishery.Duringthe2012-13season,thefisherylandedclosetoitsentirequotaof176tons(RyanBartlingpersonalcomm.,2013).
Figure 1.Quotasandlandingsintonsfortheherringsac-roefisheryfrom1972to2013(DatafromCDFW2013).*Quotasandlandingspriortothe1985-86seasonincludeHEOKandfreshfishallocationandlandings.
1CDFWcommercialfishinglicensedatacanbefoundat:http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/statistics/#CommercialFishingLicenses&Permits
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Figure 2.QuotasandlandingsintonsfortheHEOKfisheryinSanFranciscoBayfrom1989to2013(fromCDFW2013).
Recreational Fishery
[RyanBartling,personalcomm.,2013]:ThereislimitedrecreationaltakeofherringduringthespawningseasononlyinSanFranciscoBay.Thereiscurrentlynodailybaglimit,mostlyduetolowfishingeffortandtheamountofavailablefishingdays.Recreationalfisherstypicallyusecast-netstocaptureherringastheymoveinshoretospawnaroundpierpilingsandjetties.Herringaretypicallyusedforhumanfoodorbaitforotherrecreationallycaughtsportfish.Fisherymanagerswillbelookingatthisfisherymorecloselyinthefutureandpossiblyrecommendingregulatorychangesshouldtheyseeaneffortshiftorincreaseddemandforfreshfish.
MSC Principle 1: Resource Sustainability
*Sustainability of the Target Stock
[FromCDFW2013]:Thespawningbiomassestimateforthe2012-13seasoninSanFranciscoBayis79,500tons,whichexceedsthehistoricalaverage(1979-80seasontopresent)of52,000tons.Thisisthefourthyearofsignificantincreasesincethe2008-09seasonrecordlowestimateof4,800tons(Figure3).Preliminaryagecompositiondataindicatesthattheincreaseinspawningbiomasswasduetoastrongrecruitmentof3-yearoldherringtothespawningpopulation.Age4-and5-yearoldherringalsocontinuedtopersistinthepopulation.Theincreaseinrecruitment,returning4-and5-yearoldherring,aswellasimprovedphysicalcondition,islikelyduetomorefavorablebiologicalandenvironmentalconditions,bothinestuarineandoceanicecosystems.DFWandtheFishandGameCommission’s(FGC)long-termgoalsaretomaintainhealthyherringstocksinCaliforniabysafeguardingherringasanimportantforagespecies;useprecautionaryprincipleswhensettingharvesttargets;managethecommercialharvestofherringtoachieveasustainablefishery;maintainand/orrestorehealthyagestructurestostocks;avoidand/orminimizetheharvestoftwoandthree-year-oldherring,manyofwhicharefirst-timespawners.
PacificherringarefoundfromBajaCalifornia,allthewayupthroughtheNorthAmericancoast,aroundthePacificRimanddownthroughthecoastsofAsiatoJapan.Globally(includingthe
*ForCalifornia’sSustainableSeafoodProgram,thiscategorymustscorean80orhigherduringanMSCassessment.
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Californiastock),Pacificherringexperiencedastockcollapse,around1997-98,attributedtoElNiñoconditionsthatreducedoceansurvival(CDFG2006;CDFW2013).PacificherringstocksaretypicallydefinedbytheprimaryspawninggroundsandinCaliforniatherearefourseparatestocks,SanFrancisco,Humboldt,TomalesBay,andCrescentCityHarbor.SanFranciscoBayhasthelargeststock.
Currently,stockstatusinCaliforniaisassessedannuallyonlyinSanFranciscoBay.Thesespawningbiomasssurveysareusedtosetthequotafortheherringfisheryforthenextseason.Theotherfishingareashistoricallyunderwentannualassessmentsbutwerediscontinuedduetonofishingeffortandstaffreductions.NotmuchisknownaboutthespeciesduringtheopenoceanphasesoDFWusesspawningbiomassestimateswhentheyenterSanFranciscoBaytoassessthepopulation(Figure3).In2003,apeerreviewofherringfisherymanagementrecommendedthataharvestrateintherangeof10-15%wouldbesustainableandthatalowerlevelwouldprovideadesirabletargetforstockrebuilding.Since2010,DFWhasrecommendedharvesttargetsforPacificherringat5%orbelowthemostcurrentspawningbiomassestimate,asaconservationsafeguard.Actualharvestratesbythecommercialfisheryhaveequaledlessthanfourpercentofthetotalspawningbiomasssincethe2003-04seasonandhaveequaled10percentorlessofthespawningbiomasssincethe1979-80season.Anestimateoftheunexploitedspawningbiomasshasnotbeenproduced;howeveraformalstockassessmentiscurrentlybeingdevelopedbytheCentreforEnvironment,FisheriesandAquacultureScience(Cefas;RyanBartlingpersonalcomm.,2013).
ThequotaissetannuallybytheFGCbasedonrecommendationsbyDFW.Likeothershort-livedcoastalpelagicspecies,Pacificherringabundancefluctuateswidelyduetovariablerecruitment,makingannualpopulationassessmentsnecessaryforeffectivemanagement.ThisallowsDFWandtheFGCtointegratenewinformationintomanagementofthefisheryonatimelybasis.Forexample,in2008-2009theherringpopulationfelltoanewlowof4,800tonsandDFWrecommendednotakeforthe2009-2010season(CDFW2013).WhenrecommendingaquotatotheFGC,DFWtakesintoconsiderationnotonlythemodelingresultsofthespawningbiomassestimates,butotherfactorssuchasoceanandbayconditions,agestructure,growthrates,strengthofindividualyear-classes,andpredictedsizeofincomingyearclasses(recruitment)(CDFW2013).
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Figure 3. SanFranciscoBayspawningbiomassestimatesandcommercialcatch(fromCDFW2013). Evaluation against MSC Component 1.1: Sustainability of Target StockPerformance Indicators Rating Justification
1.1.1 Stock Status Managed to prevent recruitment overfishing; stock has been increasing in recent years
1.1.2 Reference Points* Conservative reference points are used (5% of spawning biomass); although it is unclear what the unexploited spawning biomass level is
1.1.3 Stock rebuilding Not triggered
*ForanLTLspecies,MSCstatesthatthedefaultTRPshouldbe75%oftheunexploitedspawningbiomasslevel.
Harvest Strategy (Management)
DFWhasmanagedthecommercialPacificherringsac-roefisheryinSanFranciscoBaysincetheopeningin1972.DFW’sbiologicalandenforcementstaffhaveworkedcloselywiththefishingindustrythroughoutthisperiodtoprovideforasustainableandorderlyfishery.Thishasbeenachievedthroughannualpopulationassessments,CaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityActreview,evolvingregulatorychanges(fisheryregulations)andoversightbytheFGC.TheFGChasregulatoryresponsibilityformanagementofthisfisherywithDFWprovidingrecommendationsandmanagingthefisherydirectly.Thismanagementstructureallowsthestocktobemanagedcloselysincethepopulationcanvarygreatlyduetoannualrecruitmentsuccess.Thespawningbiomassisassessedeachyearandisusedalongwithotherbiologicalandenvironmentaldatatosetquotasforthefishery.Thefisheryisalsomanagedbyseasonalclosuresthatareseteveryyear,gearrestrictionssuchasaminimummeshsizeof2inches,
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andalimitedentry(LE)permitsystem.Thefisheryisonlyopeninstatewaters;openoceanfishingwasprohibitedin2009.SeeSection3.2:FisherySpecificManagementSystemformoreinformation.
Evaluation against MSC Component 1.2: Harvest Strategy
Performance Indicators Rating Justification
1.2.1 Harvest Strategy Annual assessments, conservative harvest measures, annual quota, gear restrictions, seasonal closures, and LE permits.
1.2.2 Harvest Control Rules and Tools
Annual quotas are responsive to the state of the stock, several restrictions in place to limit harvest
1.2.3 Information/Monitoring Not much information is available on their life history in the ocean or the actual size of the stock.
1.2.4 Assessment of Stock Status There is an annual assessment, but it is not clear if the method accurately assesses the size of the stock.
MSC Principle 2: Environment
Retained Catch
[RyanBartling,personalcomm.,2013]:Wedonotcurrentlyhaveretainedcatchdataforthisfishery,althoughitmaybeaccessiblebyanalyzinglandingsreceiptsforthecommercialfishery.
Evaluation against MSC Component 2.1: Retained Catch
Bycatch
[RyanBartling,personalcomm.,2013]:ThegillnetgearspecifiedinregulationsspecificallytargetsPacificherringbasedonaminimummeshsizeandmaximumoverallnetlength.BasedontheDFWcommercialsamplingdataandstaffobservations,thereisverylittleincidentaltakeofnon-targetspecies.By-catchistypicallylimitedtoJacksmelt(Atherinopscaliforniensis)andsardines(Sardinopssagax);however,thesespeciesdonotfrequentareastargetedbythecommercialherringfleetduringthewintermonthsandincidenceasby-catchisminimal.
Performance Indicators Rating Justification
2.1.1 Outcome No data publicly available on catch of retained species
2.1.2 Management No data publicly available on catch of retained species
2.1.3 Information No data publicly available on catch of retained species
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Evaluation against MSC Component 2.1: Bycatch
*Endangered, Threatened, & Protected Species
[RyanBartling,personalcomm.,2013]:Wedonotcurrentlyhavedataforthisfishery.Currentharvesttargetsallow95percentormoreofthespawningstocktoremainavailableasforageforavarietyofspecieswhichshouldminimizepotentialimpactstoETPs.
Evaluation against MSC Component 2.3: Endangered, Threatened & Protected Species
*ForCalifornia’sSustainableSeafoodProgram,thiscategorymustscorean80orhigherduringanMSCassessment.
Habitat
[RyanBartling,personalcomm.,2013]:ThePacificherringfisheryusessetgillnetswhichareweightedandanchoredtothebottom,thusdependingonthesubstrate,theycanimpacthabitat.MostherringfishingareasinSanFranciscoBayaremudbottom,howeverDFWstaffacknowledgesthereispotentialforimpactstosubtidalvegetationduetoanchoringandleadlinechaffingonbenthichabitat.Eelgrass(Zostera marina)andredalgae(Gracilaria sp.)arecommonlyfoundinSanFranciscoBayandcouldberemovedordisturbedduringfishingoperations.Historically,mostfishingoccursinareasthatdonotcontaineelgrassand,asaresult,potentialdisturbancewouldbeminimal.DisturbancetoGracilariawouldalsobenegligibleduetoitsgrowthcharacteristics.Itdoesnotattachtobenthicsubstrateandissubjecttowaterandtidalmovementinmanyareasofthebay.Thesmallsizeofthecurrentfishery,however,likelylimitsoverallhabitatimpact(CDFW2013).
Performance Indicators Rating Justification
2.2.1 Outcome No data publicly available on bycatch species, however internal DFW data shows bycatch is likely minimal
2.2.2 Management No data publicly available; Sardine are federally managed with annual stock assessments; Jacksmelt are not actively managed
2.2.3 Information No data publicly available; more information is needed on bycatch amounts and species
Performance Indicators Rating Justification
2.3.1 Outcome No data publicly available on ETP species
2.3.2 Management No data publicly available on ETP species
2.3.3 Information No data publicly available on ETP species
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Evaluation against MSC Component 2.4: Habitat
Ecosystem
Herringareanintegralcomponenttoahealthyfunctioningmarineecosystem,makingupalargeportionofthedietofmarineorganismsfromCaliforniatoAlaska.Herringarealow-trophiclevelspeciesthatplayanimportantroleinsustainingawidearrayofotherspeciesandmaintainingthewiderecosystem.[CDFW2013]:Asakeyforagespecies,lowbiomasslevelsofherringcouldimpactimportantrecreationalandcommercialspeciesaswellasthreatenedandendangeredfish,marinemammals,andseabirdsthatrelyuponthemasafoodsource.Changesinabundanceandagestructureofaforagespeciessuchasherringandvariabilityinthesizeandtimingofherringspawneventscanleadtochangesintheabundancesandbehaviorsofthevarietyoforganismsthatdependonherringandtheireggsforfood.Additionally,variabilityinlarge-scaleoceanicconditionssuchascoastalupwellingandtheElNinoSouthernOscillationcyclecanaffectboththetimingofspawneventsandrecruitmentsuccess.
IngeneralthefisheryinCaliforniaisstrictlyregulatedtoavoidoverfishingofthisspecies.Oneofthemanagementobjectivesisto“Safeguardherringasanimportantforagespeciesforalllivingresourcesofmarineandestuarineecosystemsthatutilizeherringasafoodsource(CDFW2013).”
Evaluation against MSC Component 2.5: Ecosystem
MSC Performance Indicators Rating Justification
2.4.1 Outcome Unlikely that irreversible harm is caused because the fishery is small, but more data is needed to properly assess
2.4.2 Management Limited entry permits and seasonal closures likely help limit habitat impacts
2.4.3 Information No information is available on the risk posed to habitat types by the fishery
Performance Indicators Rating Justification
2.5.1 Outcome Herring are considered a low trophic level species; however, the fishery is conservatively managed and it is unlikely the fishery causes serious harm to the ecosystem
2.5.2 Management The fishery is managed conservatively; need more information to determine if current strategy has been effective
2.5.3 Information Not enough information to understand impacts on habitat, bycatch, retained and ETP species.
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MSC Principle 3: Management System
Governance and Policy
ThisfisheryisregulatedbytheCaliforniaFishandGameCommissionandmanagedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife(DFW).ItissubjecttoandmanagedunderallrelevantUSfederallawsaswellasCaliforniastateregulationspertainingtofisheriesmanagement.DFWworkscloselywithconstituentadvisorygroupstocarefullydesignandevaluaterestrictedaccessplansforsubmissiontotheCommission.TheCommissionconductshearingsforpublicinput.TherestrictedaccessplanisthenreturnedforanynecessaryrevisiontoDFWandadvisorygroupsbeforereturningtotheCommissionforafinaldecision.
Evaluation against MSC Component 3.1: Governance and Policy
Performance Indicators Rating Justification
3.1.1 Legal and/or Customary Framework
FGC and DFW manage the fishery within an effective framework for delivering sustainable fisheries
3.1.2 Consultation, Roles and responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities are clearly laid out; FGC meetings are open to the public and to public comments
3.1.3 Long-‐term Objectives Magnuson-‐Stevens Act, Marine Life Management Act
3.1.4 Incentives for Sustainable Fishing
Magnuson-‐Stevens Act, Marine Life Management Act
Fishery Specific Management System
DFWhasmanagedthecommercialPacificherringsac-roefisheryinSanFranciscoBaysincetheopeningin1972.Thefisheryismanagedthroughannualpopulationassessments,CaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityActreview,evolvingregulatorychanges(fisheryregulations)andoversightbytheFGC.TheFGChasregulatoryresponsibilityformanagementofthisfisherywithDFWprovidingrecommendationsandmanagingthefisherydirectly.Thismanagementstructureallowsthestocktobemanagedcloselysincethepopulationcanvarygreatlyduetoannualrecruitmentsuccess.
[FromRyanBartling,personalcomm.,2013]:InSanFranciscoBay,oncethequotaissetbasedonthepreviousseasonsspawningbiomassestimate,itisallocatedbetweensac-roe,freshfish,andHEOK.Itisthenfurthersubdividedbyplatoonsinthesac-roefisherythatfishonalternatingweeks.Fishermencanownpermitsinbothplatoons;thedivisionofthefisherywascreatedwhenthefisherywasmuchmoreactiveandtherewasaneedtoorganizethelargeparticipation.Historicallyover400permitswereissuedand100vesselsactivelyparticipatedinthefishery.InrecentyearsDFWhasissuedapproximately180permitswithonly25-35vesselsactivelyparticipating.ThequotasforTomalesBay,HumboldtBayandCrescentCityHarborareaarecurrentlysettonotexceed350tons,60tons,and30tons,respectively.NocommercialfishingactivityhastakenplaceinTomalesBaysince2007,inHumboldtBaysince2005andinCrescentCityHarborsince2002.Forthe2012-2013season,TomalesBayhad10permit
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renewalsandHumboldtBayandCrescentCityHarborhadfourrenewals.
Thefisheryisalsomanagedbyseasonalclosuresthatareseteveryyear,gearrestrictionssuchasaminimummeshsizeof2inches,andalimitedentry(LE)permitsystem.Thefisheryisonlyopeninstatewaters;openoceanfishingwasprohibitedin2009.Managementobjectivesfortheherringfisheryinclude:
• Safeguardherringasanimportantforagespeciesforalllivingresourcesofmarineand estuarineecosystemsthatutilizeherringasafoodsource
• Useprecautionaryprincipleswhensettingharvesttargets
• Managethecommercialharvestofherringtoachieveasustainablefishery
• Totheextentpossible,maintainand/orrestorehealthyagestructurestostocks
• Avoidand/orminimizetheharvestoftwoandthree-year-oldherring,manyofwhichare first-timespawners
• Setcommercialharvesttargetsthatconservesufficientherringtosupportrecreational take
EnforcementoffishingregulationsisconductedinstatewatersbyCDFW’sLawEnforcementDivision.Additionallytoolssuchasportsampling,landingreceipts,logbooks,andobservercoverageareusedtomonitorcatchandensurevesselshavethecorrectpermitsforthecatchtheyarelanding.Violatorsareprosecutedunderthelaw.Thereisnoevidenceofsystemicnon-compliance.
Evaluation against MSC Component 3.2: Fishery Specific Management SystemPerformance Indicators Rating Justification
3.2.1 Fishery Specific Objectives Mgmt objectives are listed in CDFW (2013), however they do not address retained, bycatch and ETP species or habitat impacts.
3.2.2 Decision-‐making Processes DFW provides recommendations that are vetted through the FGC
3.2.3 Compliance & Enforcement An enforcement system exists and has demonstrated an ability to enforce relevant management measures, strategies and/or rules.
3.2.4 Research Plan Annual research plans are developed by DFW but are internal; can be obtained if requested
3.2.5 Management Performance Evaluation
There is annual monitoring and evaluation of the stock, however it is unclear how often assessment methods are evaluated.
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California Specific Requirements
TheCaliforniavoluntarysustainableseafoodprogramrequiresfisheriesseekingcertificationtomeetCaliforniaspecificstandardsinadditiontothestandardsandrequirementsoftheMarineStewardshipCouncil(MSC)sustainablefisheriescertificationprogram.Theseinclude:
1.Higherscores(80insteadof60)fortwoperformanceindicators(PI)oftheMSCprogram:“StockStatus”(PI1.1.1)and“By-catchofEndangered,Threatened,orProtected(ETP)Species”(PI2.3.1).ThesetwoPIsarehighlightedinthereport.
2.Additionalindependentscientificreview:TheOPCScienceAdvisoryTeamwillbeengagedinthecertificationprocessthroughearlyconsultationinreviewingminimumeligibilitycriteria,andreviewoftheMSC-requiredpre-assessmentsandfullassessments.ThereviewswillbeconductedinadditiontoMSC’speerreview,thusbringingadditionalcredibility,transparency,andindependencetoCalifornia’scertificationprocess.
3.Additionaltraceabilitycomponents:TheCaliforniaprogramwilldevelopauniquebarcodeforCaliforniacertifiedsustainablefish.Thisbarcodecanbeeitherscannedbyasmart-phoneorlinkedtoawebsitethatwillrevealadditionalinformationaboutthefishery,andinformationabouttoxicitywhenavailable
Recommendations
[RyanBartling,personalcomm.,2013]:DFWiscurrentlyproposingachangetoexistingregulationstoallowthecommercialtakeofherringforboththesac-roeandfreshfishmarketfisheriesunderonequotaandoneseason.Thiswouldmeanthefreshfisheryseasonandquotawouldbemovedintothesac-roefisheryandallfishlandedduringtheregularherringseasoncouldbesoldforsac-roeorfreshfishpurposes.Atthistime,thefreshfishfisheryoperatesoutsideofthesac-roefisheryseason.However,herringareverydifficulttocatchduringnon-spawningseason.HistoricallythePacificherringcommercialfisheryhasprimarilyharvestedsac-roeforexporttoothercountries.However,DFWhasnotedanincreaseindemandintheBayareaforlocallycaughtfreshherring.Thisanecdotalevidence(aPacificHerringfestivalandtheappearanceoffreshherringonrestaurantmenus)leadsDFWtobelievethatherringcaughtduringthesac-roeseasonarebeingsoldwhole(asitnormallyis),butthatpurchasersareusingtheherringlocally.DFWisrecommendingthattheCommissionamendregulationstomakefreshfishavailableduringwhathashistoricallybeenthesac-roeseasonbythegill-netfleet.Thischangeisalsobeingproposedinresponsetopublicrequeststoprovideincreasedfishingopportunitiesforthehighervaluefreshfishmarket.
ThegrowingdemandforlocallycaughtPacificherringcouldbenefitOPC’sprogramsincetherewouldbealargerincentiveforthefisherytoparticipateifconsumerswereinterestedinsupportingsustainableCaliforniaseafood.GenerallytheherringfishingindustryhassupportedconservationsafeguardsproposedbyDFWmanagersandtheywouldalsolikelysupporteffortsforasustainablelabelingprogramthroughMSCcertification.
Additionally,therehasbeengrowinginterestintheHEOKfishery.Atthispointintime,thefisheryisverysmall(limitedto10permits)andismanagedbyoneoperator.However,itispresumedthatthisfisheryissustainablesinceitdoesnotremoveadultfishfromthepopulation.Ifthisportionofthefisherydoesgrowinthefuture,itmaybeusefultoeitherincludeitinacertificationofthewholefishery,ortrytobetterunderstandthefisheryimpactsformanagementpurposes.
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References
Bartling,Ryan.EnvironmentalScientist.CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife.PersonalCommunicationwithErrinKramer-WiltandAlenaPribyl.April-June2013.California.
CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame(CDFG).2008.PacificHerring.In:StatusoftheFisheriesReport–Anupdatethrough2006.ReporttotheFishandGameCommissionasdirectedbytheMarineLifeManagementActof1998.CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGameMarineRegion.
CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame(CDFG).2012.Summaryofthe2011-12PacificHerringCommercialFisheriesinSanFranciscoBay.CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGameMarineRegion,HerringManagementandResearch.SantaRosa,CA.
CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife(CDFW).2013.DraftSupplementalEnvironmentalDocument:PacificHerringCommercialFishingRegulations.StateofCalifornia,theNaturalResourcesAgency,andtheDepartmentofFishandWildlife.
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Appendix A
MSC Assessment Tree Pacific Herring Gill net
Principle Component Performance Indicator SF Bay
Principle 1: Health of Fish Stock
Outcome
1.1.1: Stock status
1.1.2: Reference points
1.1.3: Stock rebuilding Did not assess
Harvest Strategy (Management)
1.2.1: Harvest strategy
1.2.2: Harvest control rules
1.2.3: Info/ monitoring
1.2.4: Stock assessment
Principle 2: Impact on Ecosystem
Retained species
2.1.1: Status
2.1.2: Mgmt strategy
2.1.3: Information
By-catch species 2.2.1: Status
2.2.2: Mgmt strategy
2.2.3: Info
ETP species 2.3.1: Status
2.3.2: Mgmt strategy
2.3.3: Info
Habitats 2.4.1: Status
2.4.2: Mgmt strategy
2.4.3: Info
Ecosystem 2.5.1: Status
2.5.2: Mgmt strategy
2.5.3: Info
Principle 3: Management System
Governance & Policy
3.1.1: Legal framework
3.1.2: Consultation, roles, and responsibilities
3.1.3: Long term objectives
3.1.4: Incentives for sustainable fishing
Fishery Specific Mgmt System
3.2.1: Fishery specific objectives
3.2.2: Decision making process
3.2.3: Compliance & enforcement
3.2.4: Research plan
3.2.5: Management performance evaluation