Herring spawn across coastal Vancouver Island is expected to begin in the coming days. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

annual catch

Herring spawn days away from Qualicum, Parksville & Nanaimo coasts

Mar 11, 2024 | 12:17 PM

NANAIMO — Despite some weather hampering efforts, fishing boats are still making headway on the first round of the annual herring spawn.

Seine boats are set to wrap up their work on Monday, March 11, making way for gillnetters to fish for the tones of herring which are set to spawn shortly.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Bryan Rusch said everyone is waiting for the weather to turn locally, as smaller spawns have been spotted around both Cortes and Hernando Islands, off Campbell River.

“The main spawn hasn’t started in the Strait of Georgia really en masse here yet, we do expect the fishery there to begin likely this weather breaks, maybe by [Tuesday] where the forecast looks quite a bit better and I suspect we’ll see quite a bit of activity in the next few days here.”

Rusch said forecasts call for around 80,000 short tonnes of fish this year.

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The catch allocation for this year is an amount which has stayed relatively consistent over recent years, albeit in slightly different locations.

“We have seen over the last several decades as shift to more northerly spawning locations, primarily less spawn in the southern areas and more of a concentration around Comox down to Nanaimo.”

At least one test boat from Fisheries and Oceans Canada remains in the region to collect biological samples and monitor the stocks.

The annual herring spawn often draws a crowd across Island beaches with the usually blue water turned a milky white along the coastline.

An odour also typically accompanies the herring spawn as eggs get washed ashore and begin to rot.

Prime places to watch the event include the Qualicum Beach waterfront, Community Park and as far south as Nanaimo’s Neck Point.

— with files from Jon de Roo, 97.3 The Eagle

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