Articles
General · 7th October 2010
Ken Hanuse
2 COMMERCIAL FISHERY OVERVIEW
The commercial herring fishery began in 1877 with the first commercial harvest taken by beach seine. Between 1877 and 1906, annual harvest increased to 500 tons, with the majority of fishing occurring near Vancouver and on the east coast of Vancouver Island. In 1906 the dry salt market developed in China and demand for herring increased dramatically. By 1909 the annual harvest rose to 30,000 tons and between 1909 and 1919 ranged from 15,000 to 35,000 tons. During World War I the dry salt market decreased but the demand for canned herring increased, and between 1919 and 1927 85,000 tons were harvested. The dry salt market began declining by the mid-1930s while the reduction fishery developed. Between 1968 and 1971 the reduction fishery was shut down due to a collapse of the B.C. herring stocks. It was at this point that the food and bait fishery continued with harvests in the range of 5,000 tons. The majority of this harvest was used as halibut bait.
In the mid 1970s, the European stocks collapsed and a Europe market for British Columbia herring developed. As a result, food and bait harvest increased to a peak of 20,000 tons in 1977. The stocks in Europe quickly rebuilt decreasing the demand for food and bait herring from B.C. By 1988, due to the roe herring fish harvesters’ concerns that the large amount of herring being exported to Alaska was taking away from the high value roe fishery, a 50 ton individual vessel quota system was implemented with a coast-wide limited of 1,500 tons. Since that time the markets for domestic food and bait herring have been limited with harvest varying from 500 to 1200 tons annually. A Food and Bait herring, category ZM, licence is required to participate in this fishery. Food and Bait herring licences are party based, and are issued by way of lottery draw each year. The allocation for each ZM licence is 50 short tons.
The commercial herring fishery began in 1877 with the first commercial harvest taken by beach seine. Between 1877 and 1906, annual harvest increased to 500 tons, with the majority of fishing occurring near Vancouver and on the east coast of Vancouver Island. In 1906 the dry salt market developed in China and demand for herring increased dramatically. By 1909 the annual harvest rose to 30,000 tons and between 1909 and 1919 ranged from 15,000 to 35,000 tons. During World War I the dry salt market decreased but the demand for canned herring increased, and between 1919 and 1927 85,000 tons were harvested. The dry salt market began declining by the mid-1930s while the reduction fishery developed. Between 1968 and 1971 the reduction fishery was shut down due to a collapse of the B.C. herring stocks. It was at this point that the food and bait fishery continued with harvests in the range of 5,000 tons. The majority of this harvest was used as halibut bait.
In the mid 1970s, the European stocks collapsed and a Europe market for British Columbia herring developed. As a result, food and bait harvest increased to a peak of 20,000 tons in 1977. The stocks in Europe quickly rebuilt decreasing the demand for food and bait herring from B.C. By 1988, due to the roe herring fish harvesters’ concerns that the large amount of herring being exported to Alaska was taking away from the high value roe fishery, a 50 ton individual vessel quota system was implemented with a coast-wide limited of 1,500 tons. Since that time the markets for domestic food and bait herring have been limited with harvest varying from 500 to 1200 tons annually. A Food and Bait herring, category ZM, licence is required to participate in this fishery. Food and Bait herring licences are party based, and are issued by way of lottery draw each year. The allocation for each ZM licence is 50 short tons.