A herring spawn has been documented for perhaps the first time ever off the shores of Port McNeill.

91裸聊视频淣o one we have spoken to so far can ever remember Pacific herring spawning near the shores of Port McNeill and Hyde Creek,91裸聊视频� states a post dated March 27 from the Marine Education & Research Society91裸聊视频檚 (MERS) social media page,

91裸聊视频淲e see juvenile herring so often, it91裸聊视频檚 what the humpbacks here specialize on. But, we do not see adult herring and never have we seen a spawn.91裸聊视频�

MERS is a marine conservation, research, education, and marine wildlife response charity based on Northern Vancouver Island.

A herring spawn (or herring run) occurs every spring on the eastern shores of Vancouver Island between February and April.

MERS noted the waters turn 91裸聊视频渢urquoise from the milt of the males91裸聊视频� and with the spawning comes 91裸聊视频渂ald eagles, the diving birds, the gulls, the steller sea lions (and a few male California sea lions too).91裸聊视频�

MERS added herring are not a 91裸聊视频渟pawn-and-die species91裸聊视频� as they can live for 8+ years. 91裸聊视频淭hey spawn every year from the time they sexually mature at age three to four years.91裸聊视频�

Jim Shortreed is a Victoria-based herring enhancement volunteer has a theory as to why this herring spawn is all of a sudden happening here in the North Island. He pointed to the Haida Gwaii Herring Rebuilding Plan published last fall that states 91裸聊视频渨hen herring stocks are low, they have a tendency to spawn in random events in random places.

91裸聊视频淭wo springs ago there were spawns reported in Tod Inlet and Bourgyne Bay. Last year there were spawns at Esquimalt, Round Island and Texada. So far this spring no spawns in any of those places.91裸聊视频�

Herring stocks have not been counted yet and that count won91裸聊视频檛 be available until July.

However, 91裸聊视频渢he number of spots with no spawn are very numerous and easy to count,91裸聊视频� added Shortreed.

91裸聊视频淣o spawn south of Qualicum yet, none in Ganges, Sidney or Sooke. No spawn in the Gorge at Victoria even, and that was once legendary. The volunteers of Howe Sound have worked with the First Nations to carefully nurture their herring back to some semblance of abundance.

91裸聊视频淭hey had a good spawn in the Squamish Estuary this spring.91裸聊视频�

Correction - This article originally stated that this was the first time a herring spawn had been seen in the Broughton Archipelago. In actuality, it is the first time residents can remember seeing one off the shores of Port McNeill

editor@northislandgazette.com
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