Illegal to retain berried prawns.

[ryanb]

WOW. Was this really recommended by SFAB? Why? How about any measures to control the commercial rape and pillage?

Category(s): RECREATIONAL - Shellfish
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada Subject: FN0261-RECREATIONAL - Shellfish - Prawn and Shrimp - New Recreational Fishing Regulation: Mandatory to Release Prawns with Eggs New Recreational Fishing Regulation April 1, 2018: to conserve prawn populations it is mandatory to release all egg-bearing female prawns. Changes to the conditions of the BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence for 2018/2019 require that no person shall retain prawns carrying eggs, or remove eggs from the underside of prawns carrying eggs. All prawns carrying eggs externally on the underside of the tail shall be returned to the water immediately and in the manner that causes the least harm. This new regulation was recommended by the Sport Fishing Advisory Board to help conserve prawn populations for a vibrant and sustainable recreational fishery in British Columbia. As part of their reproductive processes prawns transition from male to female halfway through their 4-year lifecycle. Wild prawn stocks are monitored twice a year in BC to ensure a minimum number of female prawns are present in the population. The next time you set your prawn traps watch for scientific observers out on the water. They’re collecting important data that will be used to monitor the abundance of female prawns in future stock assessments. Your participation in scientific monitoring is a fundamental part of sustainable fisheries management. Please honour the spawner and fish responsibly! Protect egg-bearing female prawns. It’s mandatory to release them! Respect biological monitoring, catch limits and seasonal closures. Sampling occurs in the spring during the commercial fishery and again in the fall during spawning season. Trained fisheries observers are authorized to board commercial vessels to examine traps to sort and count catch by gender and maturity stage. Monitoring results may necessitate seasonal closures that apply to all fisheries. Winter is when the highest number of spawning female prawns are present. During this time recreational harvesters must respect area closures or, if areas are open, protect egg-bearing female prawns by returning them to the water in support of future stock strength. Expect catch success to vary every season. Every season marks a new life stage with environmental conditions that influence prawn abundance. Ocean currents, larval distribution and changes in water temperature and salinity all have an impact on survival and population strength. When it comes to prawn fishing there is no such thing as “an average condition of abundance,” which means you can count on your catch success to vary—season to season, area to area, year over year, throughout the Pacific region. Prawns Spawn! http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/docs/prawnspawn-crevreprod-eng.html Recreational Prawn Fishing. What to Expect? http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/docs/prawn-trap-piege-crevette-eng.html 2018 - 2019 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sportfish BC Sport Fishing Guide http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html FOR MORE INFORMATION : Laurie Convey 250-756-7233 laurie.convey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Mike Kattilakoski 250-756-7315 mike.kattilakoski@dfo-mpo.gc.ca David Fogtmann 250-339-3799 david.fogtmann@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Anna Magera 604-916-6743 anna.magera@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Brad Beaith 250-756-7190 brad.beaith@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Coral Keehn 250-627-3021 coral.keehn@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0261 Sent March 29, 2018 at 18:24 Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca If you would like to unsubscribe, please submit your request at: http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=manage_subscription If you have any questions, please contact us via e-mail to: DFO.OpsCentreFisheryPacific-CentreOpsPechePacifique.MPO@canada.ca

 

[searun]

Perhaps because its the right thing to do....don't we want more to successfully spawn? BTW, consistent with Commercial regulation requiring release of berried prawns.

 

[Cuba Libre]

We are just following along after the commercial guys who already have to throw back berried prawns. It is seen as small conservation action that is justifiable. ( personally, I will miss the eggs on a cream cheese cracker----- such is life. )

 

[Old Blue]

I think it's great!!! Most sensible new regulation I've read lately

 

[fshnfnatic]

Been doing it voluntarily for many years now and have a few fishing buddys that do the same.Seems like a no brainer to me.I'm glad they finally made it mandatory!

 

[Chasin' Dreams]

Absolutely a no brainer. Common sense. Always have released the egg carrying hermies.

 

[Rain City]

You mean people KEEP THEM?!!!

 

[Hookin'up]

its about time, I have Always sent them back,

 

[SpringVelocity]

I have to say I actually thought it was requirement. Been doing it for years. This was a very good regulation to put in place.

 

[bigdogeh]

I always thought that was the rule also... We've always thrown the egg bearing females back.

 

[ILHG]

Thumbs up to SFAB for pushing that through.

 

[Don Haraguchi]

Nothingburger. Been good practise forever.....

 

[RiverBoy]

Legit curious question: do prawns have a good release survival rate? And the prawns eggs for that matter? Does being dragged up from 350’ and then chucked over board have any impact on the fragile little buggers? Although i have the complete setup to do so i don’t really prawn fish, but i do so on a buddy’s boat. Releasing berried prawns seems to be a no brainer. I’m in support of this reg, as long as they don’t just sink down and die the moment i toss it back overboard.

 

[Bod]

It's about time. Now there is no reason to close the prawn season for conservation of females. With commercial and rec doing it will FN get on board and do the same?
Lots of studies done that show good survival rate.

 

[Floater]

Legit curious question: do prawns have a good release survival rate? And the prawns eggs for that matter? Does being dragged up from 350’ and then chucked over board have any impact on the fragile little buggers? Although i have the complete setup to do so i don’t really prawn fish, but i do so on a buddy’s boat. Releasing berried prawns seems to be a no brainer. I’m in support of this reg, as long as they don’t just sink down and die the moment i toss it back overboard.

Always thought the same. Am I just throwing back dead prawns?

 

[Tightlines22]

I have found a prawn the next day when stuck somewhere on deck. And they are still kicking. So I think they are hardier than you might think.

 

[seadna]

Legit curious question: do prawns have a good release survival rate? And the prawns eggs for that matter? Does being dragged up from 350’ and then chucked over board have any impact on the fragile little buggers? Although i have the complete setup to do so i don’t really prawn fish, but i do so on a buddy’s boat. Releasing berried prawns seems to be a no brainer. I’m in support of this reg, as long as they don’t just sink down and die the moment i toss it back overboard.

There is (of course) research on this. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165783611003924 - bottom line, mortality rates are very low for prawns that are not out of the water for too long and that are not dropped from a height of 2m or more.

 

[trophywife]

thanks seadna, i always have doubted survival....

 

[Copper Moon]

thanks seadna, i always have doubted survival....

Good to have that info

 

[searun]

Part of the SFAB debate prior to approving the motion to amend the regulations requiring release of berried prawns was to review the release mortality data - which is quite favorable. As many of us have strong concerns that the current method of managing the commercial prawn fishery is badly flawed and leads to over fishing the stock, it was a no brainer to support the release of berried prawns. The more spawners the better!