British Columbia pink salmon

MSC status

Certified as sustainable in July 2011

Summary

Species:  Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Location:  Canadian Pacific EEZ and British Columbia Coastal Waters

• North and Central Coast
• Inner South Coast
• Fraser River

Fishing methods:  Seine, troll, gillnet
Number of fisheries: 3

Please note the British Columbia chum salmon components are still in assessment.

More about pink salmon

Pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, are found in streams and rivers from California north to the Mackenzie River, with their principal spawning areas between Puget Sound, Washington, and Bristol Bay, Alaska. Of particular interest with the pink salmon is the defined life span. Upon emergence from the
gravel pink salmon fry swim quickly to sea and grow rapidly as they make extensive feeding
migrations. After spending eighteen months in the ocean, maturing fish return to their natal
rivers to spawn and die.

More about the fishing methods

Trollers employ hooks and lines which are suspended from large poles extending from the fishing vessel. Altering the type and arrangement of lures used on lines allows various species to be targeted. Trollers catch approximately 25 per cent of the commercial harvest.

Seine nets are set from fishing boats with the assistance of a small skiff. Nets are set in a circle around aggregations of fish. The bottom edges of the net are then drawn together into a “purse” to prevent escape of the fish.Seiners take approximately 50 per cent of the commercial catch.

Salmon gill nets are rectangular nets that hang in the water and are set from either the stern or bow of the vessel. Altering mesh size and the way in which nets are suspended in the water allows nets to target selectively on certain species and sizes of fish. Gill netters generally fish near coastal rivers and inlets, taking about 25 per cent of the commercial catch.

Commercial market

Worldwide

Actual eligibility date

1st July 2009