Perspectives of a State Director Selective fisheries as a tool in fisheries management and salmon recovery Jeffrey P. Koenings, PhD. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife American Fisheries Society Conference September 5, 2007
ESA Listed Washington Salmonids Bull Trout Lake Ozette Sockeye Bull Trout Chinook Chum Steelhead Washington Coastal Bull Trout Chinook Chum Steelhead Coho Puget Sound Lower Columbia River Bull Trout Chinook Steelhead Upper Columbia River Middle Columbia River Bull Trout Steelhead Bull Trout Northeast Washington Snake River Bull Trout Chinook Sockeye Steelhead
Regional Recovery Boards
Summary Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan for Southeast Washington October 2005 Road Maps
WDFW Tribe USFWS Hatchery System
New Tools in the Toolkit
Washington has been using selective fisheries for 20 years Started marking steelhead in 1984 Began selective fisheries in 86-87 100% marked by 1994
2002-03 Steelhead Harvest 200,000 200,000 Natural-Origin Catch Total Catch 150,000 Natural-Origin Catch Total Catch 100,000 150,000 100,000 Number of Fish Started marking in 1984 Number of Fish 50,000 50,000 Selective fisheries in 86-87 100% marked by 1994 0 1974-75 1978-79 1982-83 1986-87 1990-91 1994-95 1998-99 2002-03 0 Return Year 1974-75 1978-79 1982-83 1986-87 1990-91 1994-95 1998-99 Return Year
Number of Fish Marked at WDFW Facilities Number Marked 2007 Number Marked 2008 Percentage Marked Chinook 61,395,500 62,783,000 91/93% Coho 24,737,500 24,737,500 100% Steelhead 7,850,000 7,850,000 100% Total 93,983,000 95,370,500
Fin-clipping Studies early 1960 s Coded-wire tagging 1970 s - present
Annual Management Traditional Tools of the Trade Catch Quotas Area Closures Species Release Size & Net Mesh Limits Season Length
Costs of Innovation More Intensive Data Needs Coded-Wire Tags on Marked and Unmarked Fish - DIT Encounter Rates Marked Fish Rates Electronic Sampling Alternative Stock ID e.g., Genetics / Otoliths More Complex Fishery Models
Challenges of Mass Marking and Selective Fisheries Modifications to the CWT system will be needed Direct samples of unmarked mortalities will not be available Cost of sampling will increase Increase in uncertainty on unmarked fish needs to be accounted for in management Fishery assessment models will need to be revised for management and conservation assessments
Benefits of Mass Marking and Selective Fisheries Great tool for identification of wild versus hatchery origin fish on the spawning grounds Essential tool for hatchery reform implementation including integrating hatchery and wild stock programs Can be used to enhance recreational and commercial fishing while protecting naturally spawning stocks
Area 7 February 1-29 Areas 8-1 & 8-2 October-April Areas 5 & 6 July-August Area 9 July 16-August 15 January 16-April 15 Area 10 July 16-August 15 December 1-January 31 Areas 11 & 13 June-September CHINOOK SELECTIVE MARINE SPORT FISHERIES 2006 Open in 2006 2007 Added in 2007
2006 Fisheries STOCK All Fisheries Puget Sound Sport Total Selective Nooksack Early 24 % < 1 % 0 % Skagit Spring 26 % 7 % 2 % White Spring 20 % 4 % < 1 % Dungeness Spring 28 % 1 % < 1 % Skagit S/Fall 30 % 3 % < 1 % Stillaguamish S/Fall 27 % 6 % 2 % Snohomish Summer 33 % 9 % 3 % Lk Washington S/Fall 39 % 4 % < 1 % Green S/Fall 50 % 4 % < 1 % Puyallup S/Fall 50 % 6 % 2 % Nisqually S/Fall 65 % 14 % < 1 % Mid-Hood Canal S/Fall 30 % 4 % < 1 % Skokomish S/Fall 57 % 19 % < 1 %
All the H s are Necessary Clean Water Act Shorelines Hydro Forest Practices Habitat Harvest Non-regulatory Programs Water Supply & Conservation Growth Management Act Habitat Protection & Restoration Projects
$770 Million to Washington salmon recovery 1997-2005: $770 Million: federal and state funds to direct salmon recovery $360 M Operating $410 M Capital 77% to habitat 10% to harvesting 7% to hatcheries 6% other salmon recovery efforts Office of Program Research; Dec. 2004 Report to WA State Legislature
Improve the Fitness of Naturally Spawning Fish Reduce ratio of hatchery fish on spawning grounds Ensure wild spawning fish drive adaptation of the natural population and size of hatchery program. Increase harvest hatchery fish Reduce harvest of natural fish