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Research Document - 1999/122

Halibut Bycatch in the British Columbia Shrimp Trawl Fishery.

By J.A. Boutillier, J.A. Bond and H. Nguyen

Abstract

In recent years, the number of vessels participating in the shrimp trawl fisheries in British Columbia has increased. In addition, the number of vessels exclusively fishing shrimp has also increased. With this increase in fishing effort, identifying the species and amounts of fish caught as bycatch in the fishery has become a concern. This paper focusses on the bycatch of halibut in the shrimp trawl fishery.

Since 1996, at-sea observers have collected information on the bycatch of halibut (and other species) in the shrimp trawl fisheries in British Columbia. This paper describes the bycatch observer program and summarises the observer sampling that has been carried out off the West Coast of Vancouver Island, in Queen Charlotte Sound, and in Chatham Sound. The data collected on halibut bycatch in these fisheries since 1996 are summarised, and estimates of the amount of halibut caught as bycatch in the shrimp trawl fisheries of British Columbia is estimated. In addition, the condition of the halibut caught and the fish exclusion devices that some vessels are now using to attempt to reduce the bycatch are discussed.

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