Herring: Pacific

Pacific herring

Kazunoko (roe)

Pacific herring are a wide-ranging pelagic species found throughout the North Pacific occurring as far west as Japan and Korea, north to Russia and the Arctic Ocean, and south along the coast of North America to northern Baja California. They are found in near shore coastal environments to well off shore. This species form schools at the surface to depths of 250 m but typically at depths less than 150 m.

The current stock structure of Pacific herring in British Columbia is not completely understood. Based on recent genetic and tagging studies the current belief is that all British Columbia herring belong to a single metapopulation comprised of five major migratory subpopulations (Beacham et. al. 2001, Ware and Schweigert 2001). These five subpopulations form the basis of the fishery management system and quota allocation is derived at this level.

Pacific herring are a relatively short-lived species with an early age of maturity, and fast growth rate. Overall this species is thought to be resilient to fishing pressure and is considered of “low” conservation concern.

The population of Pacific herring in British Columbia waters can be considered “fully fished” but overfishing is not occurring. The population as a whole has recovered from the extensive overfishing that occurred in the 1960s but there is still some concern regarding the recent declines in abundance in some regions. The long-term trend is variable due to extreme natural fluctuations in the population but overall the coastwide population can best be described as stable. Overall the status of wild Pacific herring stocks is considered of “moderate” conservation concern.

The fishery for Pacific herring targets spawning aggregations using purse seines and gillnets. Because the aggregations are comprised predominantly of herring, the ratio of bycatch to directed catch is low (i.e., <1%). Bycatch is considered a “low” conservation concern.

It is unlikely that the fishing gears used to capture herring are having any large scale impacts on habitats and ecosystems but this is unknown. The main concern regarding this fishery is the appropriate fishery yield of herring in the context of ecosystem requirements. Overall this criterion is given a “yellow” ranking.

The Pacific herring fishery is managed effectively. Age-structured stock assessments are typically reliable and frequently updated. However, in 2006, returns of spawning herring were far below modeled forecasts. In general, management has been able to restore and maintain the stock productivity by significant changes in management over the last three decades. Overall management is given a “green” ranking.

Contaminant levels do not warrant a consumption advisory.

No.