CURRENT STATUS AND POTENTIAL OF SHELLFISH SPECIES

CURRENT STATUS AND POTENTIAL OF SHELLFISH SPECIES (RAMS 2002)

SPECIES COMMENTS POTENTIAL

PACIFIC CLAMS First Nations hold 237 of 333 commercial licenses and have designated beaches for harvest that are off limits to commercial fishing activities. It is believed that the stocks need to be rested. Beach aquaculture of clams is currently in discussion with DFO but must be reconciled with the wild fishery. Earnings remain at an avg of $2600/license/season Digger incomes, depuration facilities, processing, marketing and shipping services. If farmed and wild values can be reconciled, this fishery could grow significantly

GOEDUCK This fishery is among the highest value on the West Coast. Divers harvest clams singly and live; picked to order for buyers. Licenses are prohibitively expensive at 500K and up, but several divers are WCVI residents. There are only 55 licenses coast-wide. The Underwater Harvesters Group monitors and manages the fishery. There are unresolved issues between clam and geoduck licensees over the allocation of horse clams. Divers incomes, landings and shipping. There is potential for investment in live air shipping infrastructure and potentially hatchery development for geoduck seeding/farming.

HORSE CLAMS The fishery is very small. Z licensees can harvest from the intertidal but hand digging usually damages product. Only G licenses (geoduck) can harvest in the subtidal which produces a superior product. UHA manages this fishery. Reallocation to Z licensees has been requested but not acted upon by DFO. Income for divers, shipping, landings. Future potential depends on ability to reallocate licenses and develop appropriate bed-management structure

GOOSENECK BARNACLE Gooseneck barnacles are harvested live for export to Spain. It is also a fishery traditionally used by First Nations for income and food. The fishery was closed in 2000 by DFO for conservation concerns. The WCVIMB has been working with the Gooseneck Barnacle Assoc. to develop a proposal for a three year scientific permit. They anticipate harvesting to commence on a limited basis in 2003. Income to pickers. Possible local area management structure. Protocols with First Nations will be required.

GREEN, PURPLE SEA URCHIN First Nations hold 237 of 333 commercial licenses and have designated beaches for harvest that are off limits to commercial fishing activities. It is believed that the stocks need to be rested. Beach aquaculture of clams is currently in discussion with DF0 Prices vary considerably in the marketplace. Income for divers, landings and some shipping opportunities. The fishery for green urchins is likely to expand.

SCALLOP Wild scallop harvest is currently in abeyance because of a lack of scientific information about stocks. Organizing for a test fishery may be feasible. Scallop farming may be a viable alternative to the wild fishery in the region. One farm in Clayoquot has operated successfully in recent years. The development of a farmed scallop industry and the potential for a hatchery should be considered

GIANT BARNACLES There is no commercial fishery at present but some sports fishing and Aboriginal food fishery harvesting. Frozen packaged product is available from Chile to meet international demand. The stocks are accessed by diving in deep, high wave areas. Stock assessment and market research is required. A new, small fishery could be developed on the WCVI.

DUNGENESS CRAB The commercial fishery carries 223 licenses coastwide. The value of these licenses is 250K and rising. NTC is concerned about weak stock management regimes. There are 4 licenses held in Ucluelet and 8 in Tofino for this species. It is an important part of the tourist trade in this region as one of the only locally caught species that is available for purchase. Licensees and crew income are retained in the region. Local sales maximize value from the fishery. Processing in combination with Tanner Crab presents new opportunities.

CRAB: Tanner and Box The third year of scientific licensing for Tanner Crab is underway. Research on box crab just beginning. Processing of Tanner crab caught by experimental license holders is being done in Port Hardy. Opportunities for a scoring facility in Ucluelet as the fishery develops Fishing incomes, landing, shipping, scoring, freezing, packaging facilities

SPECIES	COMMENTS	POTENTIAL
PACIFIC CLAMS	First Nations hold 237 of 333 commercial licenses and have designated beaches for harvest that are off limits to commercial fishing activities. It is believed that the stocks need to be rested. Beach aquaculture of clams is currently in discussion with DFO but must be reconciled with the wild fishery. Earnings remain at an avg of $2600/license/season	Digger incomes, depuration facilities, processing, marketing and shipping services. If farmed and wild values can be reconciled, this fishery could grow significantly
GOEDUCK	This fishery is among the highest value on the West Coast. Divers harvest clams singly and live; picked to order for buyers. Licenses are prohibitively expensive at 500K and up, but several divers are WCVI residents. There are only 55 licenses coast-wide. The Underwater Harvesters Group monitors and manages the fishery. There are unresolved issues between clam and geoduck licensees over the allocation of horse clams.	Divers incomes, landings and shipping. There is potential for investment in live air shipping infrastructure and potentially hatchery development for geoduck seeding/farming.
HORSE CLAMS	The fishery is very small. Z licensees can harvest from the intertidal but hand digging usually damages product. Only G licenses (geoduck) can harvest in the subtidal which produces a superior product. UHA manages this fishery. Reallocation to Z licensees has been requested but not acted upon by DFO.	Income for divers, shipping, landings. Future potential depends on ability to reallocate licenses and develop appropriate bed-management structure
GOOSENECK BARNACLE	Gooseneck barnacles are harvested live for export to Spain. It is also a fishery traditionally used by First Nations for income and food. The fishery was closed in 2000 by DFO for conservation concerns. The WCVIMB has been working with the Gooseneck Barnacle Assoc. to develop a proposal for a three year scientific permit. They anticipate harvesting to commence on a limited basis in 2003.	Income to pickers. Possible local area management structure. Protocols with First Nations will be required.
GREEN, PURPLE SEA URCHIN	First Nations hold 237 of 333 commercial licenses and have designated beaches for harvest that are off limits to commercial fishing activities. It is believed that the stocks need to be rested. Beach aquaculture of clams is currently in discussion with DF0	Prices vary considerably in the marketplace. Income for divers, landings and some shipping opportunities. The fishery for green urchins is likely to expand.
SCALLOP	Wild scallop harvest is currently in abeyance because of a lack of scientific information about stocks. Organizing for a test fishery may be feasible. Scallop farming may be a viable alternative to the wild fishery in the region. One farm in Clayoquot has operated successfully in recent years.	The development of a farmed scallop industry and the potential for a hatchery should be considered
GIANT BARNACLES	There is no commercial fishery at present but some sports fishing and Aboriginal food fishery harvesting. Frozen packaged product is available from Chile to meet international demand. The stocks are accessed by diving in deep, high wave areas.	Stock assessment and market research is required. A new, small fishery could be developed on the WCVI.
DUNGENESS CRAB	The commercial fishery carries 223 licenses coastwide. The value of these licenses is 250K and rising. NTC is concerned about weak stock management regimes. There are 4 licenses held in Ucluelet and 8 in Tofino for this species. It is an important part of the tourist trade in this region as one of the only locally caught species that is available for purchase.	Licensees and crew income are retained in the region. Local sales maximize value from the fishery. Processing in combination with Tanner Crab presents new opportunities.
CRAB: Tanner and Box	The third year of scientific licensing for Tanner Crab is underway. Research on box crab just beginning. Processing of Tanner crab caught by experimental license holders is being done in Port Hardy. Opportunities for a scoring facility in Ucluelet as the fishery develops	Fishing incomes, landing, shipping, scoring, freezing, packaging facilities