Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii) surveillance

Location: Northeast Pacific marine ecosystems and surrounding areas

Description: The purpose of this project is to track observations of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) and Pacific herring spawn in northeast Pacific marine areas.

Background: Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii) is a centrally important forage fish species in coastal marine areas of the northeast Pacific Ocean. Their schools are fed on and relied on my many higher trophic level species of fish, mammals, and birds. They spawn on submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and cobble and on some other substrates. This this spawned herring roe on kelp and other SAV is highly valued as a subsistence food by aboriginal people and First Nations..

Funding: Open invitation

Partners: Open invitation for partnerships, BC Nature Federation, local nature conservancy groups throughout BC.

Observing Guidance: Qualitative observations, detailed descriptions, and photographs of herring schools, feeding hotspot events, and herring spawn / spawning activity.

Source Data: Observations submitted to the LEO Network, and from other networks and sources.

Outputs: Newsletters and potential publications about changes in Pacific herring productivity and spawning.

Project Updates: Continual on the LEO Network, and based on funders' schedules.

Resources:

Herring Spawning Areas of British Columbia

Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii) fact sheet

References:

Hay, D.E., 1985. Reproductive biology of Pacific herring (Clupea harengus pallasi). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 42(S1), pp.s111-s126.

Hay, D.E., P.B. McCarter, R. Kronlund and C. Roy. 1989. Spawning areas of British Columbia herring: a review, geographical analysis and classification. Volumes 1-6. Can. MS Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2019. (2015 Edition: D. E. Hay and P. B. McCarter 2015)

Hourston, A.S. and Haegele, C.W., 1980. Herring on Canada's Pacific coast (Vol. 48). Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans.

Lassuy, D.R. and Moran, D., 1989. Species Profiles. Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Pacific Northwest). Pacific Herring. OREGON STATE UNIV CORVALLIS DEPT OF FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE.

Stacey, N.E. and Hourston, A.S., 1982. Spawning and feeding behavior of captive Pacific herring, Clupea harengus pallasi. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 39(3), pp.489-498.

Wilcox, William A. (1904) Notes on the Fisheries of the Pacific Coast in 1899, Report of the Commissioner (United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries), 1900-1901, Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, p. 534

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