HERRING

[Howzer]

What's the latest news on the spawn this year?

 

[wildmanyeah]

2026

Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Fishery Notices

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

2025 for comparison at this time

Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Fishery Notices

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

AI Summary

Yes, I can summarize the differences between these two Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) notices. Both are Bulletin #8 updates for the commercial roe herring fishery in the Strait of Georgia, issued in similar formats with test fishery results, spawn assessments, tonnage allocations, and management updates.


Here are the key differences:

• Year and Dates:
  • First notice (DOC_ID=317466): Issued March 5, 2025 (FN0191).
  • Second notice (DOC_ID=347112): Issued March 3, 2026 (FN0221).→ These are from consecutive years' roe herring seasons (typically late February to early March in the Strait of Georgia).
• Fishery Status and Gear Focus:
  • 2025 notice: Covers openings/variations for both gill net and seine fisheries (with specific references to gill net openings in certain areas; see related FN0190). Includes test fishery details.
  • 2026 notice: Primarily focuses on the roe herring seine fishery being open (effective 12:00 hours March 1, 2026; see related FN0214). Gill net is referenced but the emphasis and allocations lean toward seine operations.
• Tonnage Allocations and Harvest Levels(approximate totals from the bulletins):
  • 2025 (as of March 5):
    • Area 14 South: 14,200 tons
    • Area 14 North: 13,050 tons
    • Area 15: 670 tons
    • Area 17 North: 3,600 tons→ Higher cumulative tonnages reported/allocated in some subareas (e.g., significant daily allocations like 10,000 tons in French Ck to NW Bay on March 5).
  • 2026 (as of March 3):
    • Area 14 South: 3,400 tons
    • Area 14 North: 19,600 tons
    • Area 15: 420 tons
    • Area 17 North: 3,500 tons→ Notably higher allocation in Area 14 North (19,600 tons, including large sets like 12,000 tons in Lambert Channel to Chrome Island), but lower in Area 14 South and Area 15 compared to 2025.
• Specific Subarea Activity and Results:
  • Both have "No fish found" (NFF) in some locations (e.g., EC Hornby/Denman Islands, certain Area 15 sections, Outer Nanoose in 2026).
  • 2025: More emphasis on March dates and specific test sets (e.g., March 5 tests in Northwest Bay).
  • 2026: Earlier activity (February dates dominate, e.g., Feb 28 large sets in Area 14 North), with test fisheries from late Feb to early March.
• Other Details:
  • Both mention standard restrictions (e.g., no untreated sewage discharge, moorage rules, no retention of test fish for sale).
  • Assessments noted as "incomplete" in both, relying on test fishery soundings, spawn flights, etc.
  • Slight variations in listed subareas (e.g., 2026 explicitly includes 17-15 and portions of 17-16 north of Dodd Narrows).

 

[wildmanyeah]

Here is a five year AI snap shot of notices at this date

Here's the updated summary, now incorporating all five notices for the Strait of Georgia commercial roe herring fishery inseason progress bulletins (typically Bulletin #8–#12 range, early March snapshots). These are mid-season updates with test fishery soundings, spawn info, cumulative tonnage/harvest to date, and gear/status notes. Assessments are consistently marked as incomplete across all, relying on test sets, flights, etc.—not final quotas/TAC.

Years, Notice Details, and Timing​

• 2022 (March 5, FN0198, Bulletin 21) — Later bulletin, strong early harvest.
• 2023 (March 4, FN0202, Bulletin #12) — Heavy Area 14 focus.
• 2024 (March 3, FN0185, Bulletin #12) — Balanced but high in Area 14.
• 2025 (March 5, FN0191, Bulletin #8) — Moderate/balanced.
• 2026 (March 3, FN0221, Bulletin #8) — Heavy shift to Area 14 North.

All notices are from early March (March 3–5), capturing similar season stages (late Feb–early March activity dominant).

Fishery Status and Gear Focus (at bulletin date)​

• 2022: Seine recently closed (after March 3 opening); gillnet opened March 5 in parts of 14/17.
• 2023: Mixed; test/assessment ongoing; no major closures noted.
• 2024: Seine/test active; gillnet referenced; potential openings indicated.
• 2025: Mixed gillnet/seine openings (references related FN for specifics).
• 2026: Emphasis on seine open (from March 1); gillnet less central.

Cumulative Tonnage/Harvest to Date (main areas; approximate totals as of bulletin; incomplete assessments)​

• Area 14 (combined North/South where not split):
  • 2022: ~26,690 tons (heavy north, e.g., Lambert Ch. to Chrome Is. 12,000 tons).
  • 2023: 49,575 tons (very high; e.g., Lambert Ch. to Chrome Is. 30,000 tons, E.C. Denman 10,500 tons).
  • 2024: 39,200 tons (strong; e.g., E.C. Denman 11,000 tons, Mapleguard to Nile Cr. 10,000 tons).
  • 2025: 14,200 tons (South) + 13,050 tons (North) = ~27,250 tons total.
  • 2026: 3,400 tons (South) + 19,600 tons (North) = ~23,000 tons total.→ Pattern: 2023 had exceptionally high early harvest in Area 14; 2024 also strong; 2022/2025/2026 more moderate, with 2026 shifting heavily north.
• Area 14 North(where split):
  • 2025: 13,050 tons.
  • 2026: 19,600 tons (highest in recent years; large sets like Lambert Ch. to Chrome Is.).
  • Earlier years often lump north/south but show north dominance in high-harvest seasons.
• Area 14 South:
  • 2025: 14,200 tons.
  • 2026: 3,400 tons (much lower).
• Area 15:
  • 2022: 2,390 tons.
  • 2023: Not separately totaled (some in Baynes Sound subareas).
  • 2024: 3,475 tons (e.g., Harwood Is. 2,200 tons).
  • 2025: 670 tons.
  • 2026: 420 tons (lowest).
• Area 17 North:
  • 2022: 2,150 tons.
  • 2023: 4,775 tons.
  • 2024: 5,750 tons (e.g., Neck Pt to Dodd Narrows 4,500 tons).
  • 2025: 3,600 tons.
  • 2026: 3,500 tons (consistent mid-range).

Activity Timing and Test/Spawn Notes​

• 2022/2025/2026: Mostly March 1–5 tests/sets; some late Feb.
• 2023/2024: Broader late Feb–early March; more Feb activity in some subareas.
• Spawn: Generally minimal/no observations by early March (e.g., no spawn in flights for 2023/2024; variable mentions otherwise). Roe % in good sets: typically 7–9%+; lower/near 0% in early/pre-spawn schools.

Other Consistent Elements​

• Test vessels (e.g., Denman Isle, Viking Spirit/Cavalier, Nita Maria) active across years for soundings/samples.
• Restrictions: No untreated sewage discharge near shellfish; respect aquaculture/FSC sites (e.g., 100m buffers); no sale of test fish; Nanaimo port rules; Fish Safe notices.
• "NFF" (no fish found), scratches, skimmer schools common in low-activity subareas.

Overall Trends: Year-to-year biomass/spawn timing drives big differences. 2023 stands out with massive early Area 14 tonnage (nearly double some others); 2024 also strong there. Recent years (2025–2026) show more moderate totals, with 2026 concentrating in Area 14 North (possibly better signals/biomass there). Area 15 consistently lower in later years. These are snapshots—final quotas, total landings, and stock assessments come later.