Evaluation of the BC Spot Prawn Fishery Management Strategy

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently adopted a decision-making framework incorporating the Precautionary Approach (PA). The main objectives of the framework are to assure resource sustainability and to meet the requirements of various eco-certification programs by demonstrating the application of reference points, harvest rules and compliance with the PA. Treatment of uncertainty and risk are central to the framework, with explicit requirements to communicate the risk of resource decline associated with management actions. The fishing industry and DFO have identified a need to evaluate the management procedure for the British Columbia spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros) fishery. The objective of our research is to determine, through testing a series of candidate management strategies, which management strategy for the spot prawn fishery is most likely meet PA objectives. We have achieved this goal by: (i) developing an operating model for operations and management; (ii) calibrating the operating model based on available data, effort, and survey data; and (iii) running a closed-loop simulation that combines the operating model with a model for annual survey observations and an in-season model of the fishery to simulate spot prawn population dynamics and response to harvesting. P. platyceros are protandric hermaphrodites, starting their lives as males, transitioning to females around age 3, and dying at age 4 after spawning. The development of a stage-based model for a protandric hermaphrodite is a novel aspect of my research because it is relatively rare in the literature. This research will enable the British Columbia prawn fishery to improve their consistency and production quality through the application of effective management decisions, and has the potential to create a stronger Canadian market for spot prawn products through eco-certification programs.