First Nations Fishery
First Nations have harvested ts'a7inwa (goose barnacle) for thousands of years and maintain active aboriginal fisheries today. Home-use harvesting takes place at many exposed, rocky intertidal sites including some sites of commercial interest, but unlike commercial harvestings is generally confined to summer months. Home-use harvesting does not target barnacles of a particular size and shape as does the commercial fishery (B. Keitlah, pers. comm. July 2003).
History of the Commercial Fishery
The intertidal fishery
for goose barnacles grew rapidly from its beginning in 1985 and peaked
in 1988 when 467 Z6 licences were issued and reported landings by Z6 licence
holders were 49 tonnes. Since 1989 interest in this fishery has fluctuated
and in the last complete year of this fishery (1998) 37 licences were
issued, with 9 licence holders recorded as selling product to buyers.
Accordingly, the annual landings of goose barnacles declined and were
approximately 10 tonnes in 1997, with a total landed value of approximately
$112,000.
In May 1999, the commercial fishery was closed by Fisheries and Oceans
Canada (DFO), who cited concerns about poor catch reporting and impacts
to the rocky intertidal habitat where goose barnacles grow. Since closure,
two experimental harvests have taken place in conjunction with detailed
stock and habitat assessment projects.
Goose barnacles have
a relatively high value to fisherman, but the small niche market that
demands live, high quality product limits the fishery. Declines in the
fishery in the late 1990s are related to markets and small numbers of
experienced harvesters rather than product availability. It is estimated
that less than 10% of the WCVI total goose barnacle stock is available
to the fishery due to inaccessible harvest areas, unsuitable size and
quality to the market, and weather conditions which limit access to harvestable
product.
WCVI
Experimental Goose Barnacle Fishery Guidelines & Harvest Plan - 2005
(pdf)
The experimental fishery will be guided by the following objectives:
• To ensure conservation and protection of goose barnacle populations, the rocky intertidal habitat, and the community of plant and animal species in which goose barnacles occur.
• To apply management principles in a risk averse and precautionary manner based on the best scientific and local knowledge available, ensuring benefits for future generations.
• To meet and respect obligations regarding aboriginal fisheries for food, social, and ceremonial purposes.
• To develop a sustainable experimental goose barnacle fishery through partnership and co-management arrangements with stakeholders to share in accountable management, transparent and open decision-making, responsibilities, costs, and benefits.
• To explore adaptive management options for local management.
• To develop fishing plans and cooperative research programs to contribute to improving the knowledge base and understanding of goose barnacle resources.
• To consider health and safety in the development and implementation of management.
