Development of the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fishery in British Columbia, Canada — back from the brink using a precautionary framework

The development of the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fishery in British Columbia, Canada, is presented as an example of how a precautionary approach was applied to avert collapse of a developing invertebrate fishery and to rebuild towards a sustainable fishery. We consider four components: (1) identification of the appropriate spatial scales; (2) development of scientifically-supported management strategies; (3) consideration of uncertainties; and (4) collaborations amongst scientists, fishery managers, and stakeholders. The green sea urchin fishery in British Columbia has experienced three periods: a “developing” period during which effort and landings increased, but catch per unit of effort (CPUE) declined; a “crisis” period during which effort and landings peaked and CPUE reached a minimum; and a “rebuilding to sustainable” period during which landings and effort stabilised and CPUE increased. Passive management actions (minimum size limit, seasonal closures) were introduced at the beginning of the fishery, but were unable to limit exploitation. Subsequent to the crisis period, active management measures (large area closures, quotas, and an individual quota system) were implemented based on scientific studies and appear to have stabilised the fishery. The availability of fishing logbook information from the inception of the fishery and the development of positive relationships amongst all participants in the fishery were central elements of this rebuilding process. The long time series of logbook information provided sufficient data contrasts to use two surplus production modelling techniques to develop biological reference points for management regulations. The green sea urchin fishery is now a small but important, and apparently stable, component of the dive fisheries in British Columbia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]