Euphausiids, Pacific Region 2023 to 2027
Integrated Fisheries Management Plan summary

On this page

• Foreword
• General overview/introduction – IFMP section 1
• Stock assessment and science – IFMP section 2
• Economic, social, cultural importance – IFMP section 4
• Shared stewardship arrangements – IFMP section 8
• Governance process – IFMP section 1
• Access and allocations – IFMP section 7
• Management issues, objectives and measures
• Compliance plan – IFMP section 10
• Performance review – IFMP section 11
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada contact

Foreword

The purpose of this Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) summary is to provide a brief overview of the information found in the full IFMP. This document also serves to communicate the basic information on the fishery and its management to DFO staff, legislated co-management boards and other stakeholders. The full IFMP provides a common understanding of the basic “rules” for the sustainable management of the fisheries resource. The full IFMP is available on request.

This IFMP summary is not a legally binding instrument which can form the basis of a legal challenge. The IFMP can be modified at any time and does not fetter the Minister's discretionary powers set out in the Fisheries Act. The Minister can, for reasons of conservation or for any other valid reasons, modify any provision of the IFMP in accordance with the powers granted pursuant to the Fisheries Act.

Where DFO is responsible for implementing obligations under land claims agreements, the IFMP will be implemented in a manner consistent with these obligations. In the event that an IFMP is inconsistent with obligations under land claims agreements, the provisions of the land claims agreements will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

R. Reid, Regional Director General

General overview/introduction – IFMP section 1

The multi-year Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) for Euphausiids encompasses the period January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2027.

The Euphausiid fishery is a small limited entry, competitive commercial fishery managed through area-based quotas, seasonal openings, a precautionary 500 tonne total allowable catch (“TAC”) and a fishery notification (“hail”) and dockside validation program funded by commercial harvesters. The total allowable catch is 500 tonnes with a season from November to March to minimise the incidental catch of larval and juvenile fish. The allowable catch is estimated to be less than 3% of the annual consumption of Euphausiids by all predator species in the Strait of Georgia.

The fishery uses plankton trawl nets and occurs in the upper Strait of Georgia and a few mainland inlets in the south coast of BC in Jervis, Knight, Bute, and Toba Inlets and Homfray-Lewis-Pryce Channels. Specific annual quotas are available in each area. Most of the catch comes from Jervis Inlet and the Strait of Georgia.

Participation in the fishery is limited due to economics and markets.

Stock assessment and science – IFMP section 2

Euphausiids are an order of marine crustaceans found throughout the oceans of the world. There are 85 species of Euphausiids in the world, ranging in size from several millimetres to the largest deep sea species reaching 15 cm in length. Twenty species of Euphausiids occur in BC waters but biomass is dominated by five: Euphausia pacifica, Thysanoessa spinifera, T. inspinata, T. longipes and T. raschii. E. pacifica typically accounts for 70 - 100% of the Euphausiid biomass in the Strait of Georgia where the commercial fishery occurs.

E. pacifica is a widely distributed species in the North Pacific Ocean from Japan to southern California. It has only been fished commercially in the west of its range, off Japan, and the east of its range, off BC. A number of studies have been carried out on the biology and life history of the species harvested in BC. Much of this research has been focused on E. pacifica since it constitutes the predominant species harvested off Japan and BC.

In BC, Euphausiids release their eggs directly into the water where they develop independently. The main spawning season occurs in May to July with a second period of less intensive spawning in late August through September in the Strait of Georgia. The life span is estimated to be 19-22 months with growth cessation occurring in early autumn to winter when water temperatures and phytoplankton abundance is low.

Euphausiids are gregarious and aggregate into dense patches. This “aggregation” behaviour makes them attractive and susceptible to the directed commercial fishery.

The population size of Euphausiids in the Strait of Georgia has large seasonal and interannual variability. At present and past catch limits (<500 tonnes), the fishery removes only a small fraction of the Strait of Georgia annual average biomass, and an even smaller fraction of annual Euphausiid production.

Economic, social, cultural importance – IFMP section 4

The maximum number of vessels reporting landings in a given year was 17 in 1990. One to four vessels have fished in recent years (average 2.5 vessels/year, 2011 to 2020).

For the period of 2011-2020, the landed value of the Euphausiid fishery as reported in fish slips was lowest in 2014 at $24,590 and peaked in 2012 at $473,121. The landed price has varied between $0.74 and $1.96 kg^-1.

Landings between 1990 and 2002 varied between 300 and 500 tonnes, except 1993 due to market limitations in that year. Limited fishing activity since 2002 has resulted in significant reductions in catch landed. Annual landings since 2005 have remained below 250 tonnes. For the period of 2011-2020, landings peaked in 2012 at 260 tonnes and were lowest in 2014 at 33 tonnes, In the last 10 years, the annual TAC was never reached. The majority of catch is taken from Jervis Inlet and the Strait of Georgia.

Most of the commercial harvest of Euphausiids in BC is frozen for use in the manufacture of fish food. A small portion of the catch is freeze dried and used as aquarium pet food. There are also new and developing markets for “krill”, the common marketing name, as human food products, food additives, biochemicals, enzymes, and protein concentrates.

Market interest was increasing until 2002 but diminished significantly in 2003. The few active vessels appear to supply the available markets.

Shared stewardship arrangements – IFMP section 8

The Krill Trawlers Association (KTA) was established in 1990, and since that time has contributed significant advice toward management and research program development. Annual harvest schedules are developed in consultation with both harvesters and processors.

DFO and the KTA agree on a fishery activity notification (“hail”) and catch validation program. The KTA funds the program, primarily through a royalty applied against the poundage landed in the fishery. Harvesters pay validation costs directly to the service provider as they occur. This includes logbooks for harvesters who have validation services provided as part of the catch validation program.

Two DFO Fisheries Management personnel are directly involved in this fishery for part of their activities. Contributions to the IFMP are provided by Regional Headquarters, the Science Branch, Conservation & Protection, the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit, the Oceans Directorate and administrative personnel. Generally, all personnel are multi-tasked.

Governance process – IFMP section 1

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has ultimate and final responsibility for the management of fisheries in Canadian waters, and for the conduct of Canadian vessels operating in international waters. The Euphausiids fishery is governed by the Fisheries Act and regulations made thereunder and other applicable federal legislation.

Access and allocations – IFMP section 7

The Minister can, for reasons of conservation or for any other any other valid reasons, modify access, allocations and sharing arrangements outlined in this IFMP in accordance with the powers granted pursuant to the Fisheries Act.

The commercial fishery is limited entry, with seasonal and area closures, a total allowable catch and area-based quotas.

These species are generally not harvested recreationally. The daily limit under the BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence for “other shellfish” allows for a recreational harvest of 20 individual animals by dip net.

First Nations’ harvest for food, social and ceremonial purposes may occur where authorized by a communal licence. Euphausiids may be allocated under treaty, but were unallocated under the Tla’amin, Maa-nulth, Tsawassen and Nisga’a Treaties. These species are generally not harvested by First Nations for food, social or ceremonial purposes.

Management issues, objectives and measures

Compliance plan – IFMP section 10

DFO Conservation and Protection (C&P) will pursue opportunities to monitor and enforce this fishery, in conjunction with the monitoring and enforcement priorities in the Pacific Region.

Performance review – IFMP section 11

The effectiveness of the industry funded hail and dockside validation programs will be assessed and reviewed annually. The annual catch and any progress with changing or developing markets will be reported.

The available experimental studies and biological research will be documented.

The compliance evaluation will include the number of investigations based on reports.

Changes arising as a result of initiatives under the Oceans Act or new policies under the Sustainable Fisheries Framework that may affect the Euphausiid fishery will be described.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada contact

For additional information on this IFMP Summary or to request an electronic version of the full IFMP, please contact Jenny Smith at Jenny.Smith@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.