200755700 - What was old is new again: evaluate traditional gears for selective harvest

Sponsor: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Short description: Three traditional fishing gears will be evaluated for the selective harvest of fall Chinook and coho salmon: beach seine; pound net; and fishwheel. We will coordinate this work with an advisory group so that socio-economic aspects are addressed.

Location: Lower Columbia province, Columbia Lower subbasin

Budgets: FY08: $333,728 | FY09: $111,243

Primary species:
Anadromous: Chinook: All Populations
 Anadromous: Coho: Lower Columbia River ESU (proposed threatened)
 Anadromous: Coho: Unspecified Population

Objectives

ObjectiveDescriptionSubbasin planStrategies
Conserve anadromous fish Evaluate ability of beach seine and fish trap to release non-target fall Chinook, coho, steelhead, and other bycatch species. This will be done by evaluating visual and physiologic condition of salmonids at capture, number of bycatch caught by species, catch of target fish per catch of non target salmonids, immediate survial, and post-release destination of tagged salmonids. Lower Columbia Subbasin plans: Cowlitz Subbasin and Lower Columbia
Evaluate salmon survival, physiology, reproduction Evaluate post-release survival and physiology. Develop a reproductive success study based on where tagged fish return. Lower Columbia Subbasin plans: Limiting Factors and Lower Columbia and Cowlitz subbasins
Improve harvest of anadromous fish Evaluate ability of beach seine and fish trap to capture fall Chinook and coho. This will be done by evaluating catch of target fish per hour, catch of target fish per catch of non target salmonids, and cost to use gears. The feasibility of a fishwheel for the Cowlitz River will also be evaluated. Lower Columbia Subbasin plans: Limiting Factors Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery and Fish and Wildlife Subbasin Plans

Narrative

Recommendations

  • ISRP: Innovative, On-The-Ground, Highly Justified
  • Council: Not fundable
  • BPA: Not fundable