Validation of catch estimates for select species within the British Columbia groundfish hook-and-line catch monitoring program

Abstract

The intent of the British Columbia Groundfish Hook and Line Catch Monitoring Program is to provide accurate estimates of species-by-area catch, including at-sea discards. The program, overseen by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, provides official estimates of total catch via fisher logbooks and dockside monitoring. This research provides a description of program components, examines weaknesses (i.e., non-random sampling), and analyzes catch data for a cross section of species, including: bocaccio, canary rockfish, lingcod and North Pacific spiny dogfish. This research provides evidence that the assumption of representativeness underpinning the program is valid, and that the system is providing good catch information, in most cases, related to the species under study. During the course of this research, data handling practices and the potential for uncertainty in the video footage review data emerged as additional objectives.