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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