ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK AND MANAGEMENT ADVICE FOR THE BRITISH COLUMBIA GIANT RED SEA CUCUMBER (PARASTICHOPUS CALIFORNICUS) FISHERY -2010

Context In 2008, the fishery for giant red sea cucumber (Parastichopus californicus) in British Columbia progressed into Phase 2 of the framework for the provision of scientific advice in support of the management of developing invertebrate fisheries (Perry et al. 1999, DFO 2008). Research methodology and biomass calculation protocols were developed during the Adaptive Management, or the Phase 1 fishery. Areas of coastline that had been closed during the Phase 1 fishery are considered for re-opening to commercial harvest. A description of the assessment framework and a review of the advice on harvest management, compliant with the DFO Sustainable Fisheries Framework, was requested by Resource Managers. This Science Advisory Report has resulted from a Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Pacific Regional Advisory Meeting. Additional publications from this process will be posted as they become available on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/index-eng.htm.