Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish complex and longspine thorny management plan 2012: chapter 3

3. Proposed implementation schedule

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) encourages other agencies and organizations to participate in the conservation of the Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex and Longspine Thornyhead through the implementation of this management plan. Table 5 summarizes those actions that are recommended to support the management goals and objectives. The activities implemented by Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be subject to the availability of funding and other required resources. Where appropriate, partnerships with specific organizations and sectors will provide the necessary expertise and capacity to carry out the listed action. However, this identification is intended to be advice to other agencies, and carrying out these actions will be subject to each agency’s priorities and budgetary constraints.

Table 5a. Proposed Implementation Schedule (Management Actions)
Action Objective Priority Threats or concerns
addressed
Participating Agencies Timeline
A1.  Continue current management regime in the commercial groundfish fisheries, while working to develop methods to obtain catch estimates for Rougheye and Blackspotted Rockfish. 1, 2 High Commercial fishing; Lack of biological information on the Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex DFO, Commercial fishing industry Ongoing
A2.  Work with other commercial fishing sectors to develop methodologies to account for bycatch of the Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex and Longspine Thornyhead in commercial non-groundfish fisheries 3 Medium Commercial fishing DFO, Commercial fishing industry 3 years
A3.  Incorporate all catch on research surveys into future DFO stock assessments of Rougheye, Blackspotted Rockfish and Longspine Thornyhead 3 Medium Research harvest DFO Ongoing
A4.  Continue existing work with DFO recreational fisheries management and stakeholders to improve catch monitoring and reporting methods, including species identification in BC recreational fisheries
a.      Include Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex in recreational creel survey
3 Medium Recreational fishing DFO, Recreational fishers 2 years
A4.  Continue existing work with DFO recreational fisheries management and stakeholders to improve catch monitoring and reporting methods, including species identification in BC recreational fisheries
b.      Include species identification tools for the Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex in DFO’s Tidal Waters Fishing Guide
3 Medium Recreational fishing DFO, Recreational fishers 2 years
A5.   Improve catch monitoring and reporting methods in First Nations FSC fisheries
a.      Continue existing work with AFS managers to improve catch monitoring and reporting methods
3 Medium Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) fishing DFO, First Nations Ongoing
A5.   Improve catch monitoring and reporting methods in First Nations FSC fisheries
b.     Develop species identification tools to help First Nations identify the Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex among other rockfish catches.
3 Medium FSC fishing DFO, First Nations 2 years
Table 5b. Proposed Implementation Schedule (Research Actions)
Action Objective Priority Threats or concerns
addressed
Participating Agencies Timeline
A6.   Improve existing DFO Science research surveys for Longspine Thornyhead by increasing the number of tows in deep strata 4, 5, 6 Medium Insufficient tows capturing Longspine Thornyhead to calculate an abundance index DFO Ongoing
A7.   Take genetic samples (from all area-depth strata) of the Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex on all DFO Science surveys that currently encounter these species 4, 5, 6 High Lack of biological information on the Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex DFO Ongoing
A8.   Develop protocols to acquire biological (incl. genetic) samples from commercial catch for the Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex 5, 6 High Lack of biological information on the Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex DFO, Commercial fishing industry 3 years
A9.   Investigate potential impacts of climate change to the Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex and Longspine Thornyhead populations and their habitat in Canadian Pacific waters 6 Low Expansion of low-productivity regimes (temporal and spatial) DFO, IOS 5 years
Table 5c. Proposed Implementation Schedule (Monitoring and Assessment)
Action Objective Priority Threats or concerns
addressed
Participating Agencies Timeline
A10. Conduct an analysis to identify gaps in data that are necessary to conduct stock assessments and implement programs to rectify the data shortfalls 4, 5, 6 Low Ensure monitoring and assessment for effective management of these species DFO 3 years
A11. Ensure that the Rougheye, Blackspotted Rockfish and Longspine Thornyhead stocks are prioritized for DFO Science assessments 5 High Ensure monitoring and assessment for effective management of these species DFO 5 years
A12. Review Rougheye/Blackspotted Rockfish complex and Longspine Thornyhead abundance trends to monitor the status of these stocks on an annual basis 1 High Ensure monitoring and assessment for effective management of these species DFO Ongoing

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