Berried/Egged Prawns

[Fish Assassin]

Why is it that people are encouraged to release berried/egged prawns and they are not just told to release them? You look at some people’s hull of prawns and there are lots of these berried/egged prawns in the bucket and it doesn’t even faze them when you ask them why they would be keeping them. I think it’s time to change the wording in the next tidal guide that comes out next year to say they MUST be released.

The first thing I do is release them when I am out there. I will even go as far to leave the next trap in the water till after the berried/egged prawns in my first trap are released.

I called my local DFO office this morning. They agreed with me that it should be changed but they didn’t know how to go about doing it. They also mentioned to me that I was not the first person asking for this change.

 

[Steelhead S2]

I agree, it should be a firm rule. Part of the problem is, lots of people consider the eggs to be the best part, my missus included... although we do not keep them. As long as retention is permitted egg lovers and greedy folks will continue to keep them. Anyone know what the rule is for commercials?

 

[lazoman]

Here is the para from the commercial Management Plan:

4.3. Berried Females
Fisheries and Oceans Canada requires that all berried female prawns be released from the date of season opening to June 30. Catch must be sorted as it comes on board and the females released on a trap by trap basis. Waiting until the entire string is pulled before sorting is considered to be illegal. It is recommended that fish harvesters relocate to other grounds if they find that they are catching large numbers of berried females. High proportions of berried females may result in closure.

This should be in place for rec as well, on a trap by trap basis.

FA, we only had 12 berried on saturday's Tsunami catch.

 

[Derby]

Go to your local SFAC meeting and put a motion forward.
That way you can see where the discusion will go.

 

[Red Sled]

I've wondered this myself as well. Does anyone know the survival rate of releasing prawns that have been brought up from 3 - 400 feet. Is it worth while?

 

[Fish Assassin]

Maybe there is someone who will be going to thir area SFAB meeting that can make a motion to change the wording of the Sport Fishing Tidal Guide before the next issue comes out next year.

I am going to try to get this accross to the Area 14 SFAB meeting in two weeks.

The wording and change by the fisherman is all that needs to be done before they go to far, and close our fishery till the Girls are done with their eggs. We don't want our opening or fishery to be held over till May when the commerical fishermen start their season.

We need to release these prawns and make sure that our prawns 3-4 years from now are still there for sport. Its not renewable forever unless there is some change.

 

[Fish Assassin]

Under the Limits and Management Measures acts it say:

"• Prawns carrying eggs under their tail should be released for

conservation purposes" Page 26.

It should say MUST be released.

Is it not time to change the wording of this to protect our prawns and our sport?

 

[Dogbreath]

quote:Originally posted by fishassassin123

Is it not time to change the wording of this to protect our prawns and our sport?

Regulations should be supported by science not what some anonymous someone thinks should happen, down that road lies totalitarianism.

 

[lazoman]

I think they "should" be able to handle processing that one little change, one word from "should" to "must". To me it seems a small offering from the sports fishermen, in hope that we are able to keep the year round fishing we now enjoy in most areas.

Seems plainly scientific to me, releasing the egg bearing females = more eggs to develop into the transgendered females in 3 yrs.

 

[playnow2]

Supported by science??? Sort of like the fish farms. Cod back east, etc. I think sometimes a little common sense needs to come into play. Maybe not on berried prawns, but then??

 

[spring time]

what happens to the people ( like myself ) who like the eggs. on the other side then why don't we release female salmon carrying all the eggs that too is the future of the stock in 3-4-5 years just a thought

 

[Mi Chica]

To me the difference between roe bearing salmon and prawns is clear (pardon the pun, please). It is easy to spot the berried prawns and even if the survival rate when released is less than optimum, it makes sense to me to return them to the water. Just my 2C worth.

To much water, too little time