Canada: Herring fishery is wrapping up around Vancouver Island

The annual herring spawn is wrapping up this year and it appears “pretty encouraging” on the west coast of Vancouver Island and in the Strait of Georgia. Commercial fishing in the strait closed Friday, Bryan Rusch, regional pelagics co-ordinator for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said Monday. Seine boats were out on the water first this month, followed by gillnets. “I think overall it has definitely been a positive year so far,” he said. The total allowable catch in the Strait of Georgia was slightly higher than last year, he said, adding that the ­department is taking a conservative approach when setting limits. This year’s total catch for herring for the entire coast has been set at 9,251 tonnes, up somewhat from the previous year. Herring do not always spawn in the same location. They can move around the strait. This year, spawning was seen and is continuing at Cortes, Herndado and Savary islands. Spawning has happened there before but not that often, Rusch said. “But the focus ...