Salmon Troll Monitoring (BC)

In 2002, a small-scale demonstration fishery set out to explore individual quota allocation as an alternative management approach in the salmon troll fishery. 

Archipelago was contracted by the Area H Gulf Troller’s Association to provide a comprehensive salmon troll monitoring program, collecting information needed to evaluate the potential of this alternative fishery management method.

Electronic monitoring (EM) systems were deployed on four fishing vessels to collect information such as fishing time and location, and documentation of catch by species, number of pieces, and utilization. EM imagery was also used to observe bycatch handling and release procedures. In addition, both at-sea and dockside monitors were provided to collect complementary data that was used to evaluate both the EM systems and the demonstration fishery itself.

The monitoring program was successful, resulting in a series of expanded testing as a followup.