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 ConferenceSeptember 5, 2007

ESA Listed Washington Salmonids

• Bull Trout• Chinook• Steelhead • Bull Trout

• Bull Trout• Chinook• Chum• Steelhead• Coho

• Bull Trout• Steelhead

• Bull Trout• Lake Ozette

Sockeye

• Bull Trout• Chinook• Sockeye• Steelhead

Middle Columbia

River

Washington Coastal

Puget Sound

Upper Columbia

River

Northeast Washington

Lower Columbia

River

Snake River

• Bull Trout• Chinook• Chum• Steelhead

Regional Recovery Boards

Road Maps

Sum m ary Snake R iver Salm on Recovery P lan for Southeast W ashington O ctober 2005

• 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

Steelhead Harvest

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

1974

-75

1978

-79

1982

-83

1986

-87

1990

-91

1994

-95

1998

-99

2002

-03

Return Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Natural-Origin Catch

Total Catch

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

1974

-75

1978

-79

1982

-83

1986

-87

1990

-91

1994

-95

1998

-99

2002

-03

Return Year

Num

ber o

f Fis

h

Natural-Origin CatchTotal Catch

Started marking in 1984

Selective fisheries in ’86-87

100% marked by 1994

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 Studiesearly 1960’s

Coded-wire tagging1970’s - present

Annual Management

Catch Quotas

Area Closures

Season Length

Size & Net Mesh Limits

Species Release

Traditional Tools of the Trade

Costs of Innovation

More Intensive Data Needs

Coded-Wire Tags on Marked and Unmarked Fish - DIT

Encounter Rates

Marked Fish Rates

Alternative Stock ID

e.g., Genetics / Otoliths

More Complex Fishery Models

Electronic Sampling

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

Areas 11 & 13 June-September

Area 9July 16-August 15

January 16-April 15

CHINOOK SELECTIVE MARINE SPORT FISHERIES Open in 2006Added in 2007

Area 10July 16-August 15

December 1-January 31

Areas 8-1 & 8-2October-April

2006

2007

Areas 5 & 6July-August

Area 7February 1-29

STOCKAll

FisheriesPuget Sound SportTotal 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 %

2006 Fisheries

All the H’s are Necessary

Habitat Protection & Restoration Projects Habitat Protection & Restoration Projects

HarvestHarvestClean Water Act

Shorelines

Forest Practices

Non-regulatory Programs

Water Supply & Conservation

Growth Management Act

Hydro Habitat

$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