The Population Dynamics of Oregon Ocean Shrimp (Pandalus jordani) and Recommendations for Management Using Target and Limit Reference Points or Suitable Proxies, Information Report 2014-08

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Hannah, Robert W. and Stephen A. Jones

Publish Date: 2014

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: cedric.x.cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: The early years of the Oregon trawl fishery for ocean shrimp have been summarized by Zirges and Robinson (1980). The modern fishery is considered to have started in the late 1970’s following the entry of larger trawl vessels equipped with double-rigged, high-rise box trawls and more modern electronics (Zirges and Robinson 1980, Hannah and Jones 1991, Hannah 1993). Landings for the period 1978-2011 have averaged 25.9 million lbs and have ranged from a low of 4.8 million lbs in 1984 to a high of 56.7 million lbs in 1978. Recently (2000-2011), landings (Figure 1) have averaged 25.3 million lbs. Catch in the fishery varies greatly from year to year due to environmentally-driven variation in recruitment (Hannah 1993). Fishing effort, measured in single-rig-equivalent hours (SREH), peaked in 1981 at 138,900 SREH and has declined to a recent average of 36,624 SREH (Figure 1). The number of vessels participating in the fishery peaked in 1980 at 289 vessels, but was subsequently reduced by a limited entry system that currently allows a maximum of 138 vessels to participate. In recent years (2000-2011), the number of vessels participating in the fishery has averaged 62, partly due to a federal groundfish vessel buyback program implemented in 2003 that also reduced the number of shrimp vessels. In 2011, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) converted the limited entry groundfish trawl fishery to an Individual Trawl Quota or “catch shares” system. It’s presently unclear how this may influence effort in the shrimp trawl fishery, however some vessel operators have expressed concerns that it will increase the number of active shrimp vessels. Extensive time series of summarized data for the fishery, including catch, effort, catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and average ex-vessel price can be found in the recent annual fishery newsletters at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/publications.

Purpose: The research and analysis presented in this document was conducted to develop a scientific framework through which an alternative, more precautionary, management strategy could be evaluated for Oregon’s trawl fishery for ocean shrimp (Pandalus jordani). The specific intent was to try to relate available practical alternatives for managing this fishery to broadly used tools for managing other fish stocks, such as calculations of BMSY and related target and limit reference points (Mace 1993). This analysis was also conducted, in part, to respond to conditions of the Marine Stewardship Council for continued certification of the Oregon ocean shrimp trawl fishery under their Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing.

Time Period of Content: 1980-2010

Geographic Extent: Oregon

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF

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