History and present status of fisheries for marine fishes and invertebrates in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia

Abstract

An historical account is given of the development of Strait of Georgia commercial fisheries (other than salmon) from their beginnings in the middle to late 19th century to the 1980s. Where possible, attempts were made to explain past fluctuation in abundance, especially to distinguish natural effects from those of fishing or socioeconomic origin. The review deals with commercial exploitation of herring (Clupea harengus pallasi), dogfish (Squalus acanthias), lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), English sole (Parophrys vetulus), pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), hake (Merluccius productus), Dungeness crab (Cancer magister), shrimps (Pandalopsis dispar, Pandalus platyceros, P. jordani, P. hypsinotus and P. danae), oyster (Crassostrea gigas), butter clams (Saxidomus giganteus), little neck clams (Protothaca staminea), Manila clams (Tapes phillipinarum), geoduck clams (Panope generosa), and other invertebrates. Lingcod and the various shellfish species are also the object of recreational fisheries. Commercial landings in 1980 totalled 25 575 t with a landed value of over 20 million dollars. Over 57% of the weight landed and 70% of its landed value consisted of herring. Oysters, geoduck clams, Pacific cod, and Dungeness crabs were next in importance. We conclude that the future of the fishery will depend on policy regarding the coexistence of commercial and recreational components, the effectiveness of management measures, and probably on the success of controlling domestic and industrial pollution.