Salmon - a Variety of Species Chinook, Silvers, Coho, Steelhead, Sockeye, and Others
Fisheries: February 9, 20151
Fisheries
The regional fishery is really a set of different fisheries. Note the charts showing catch by state in the atlas (p. 120).
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·salmon - a variety of species – chinook, silvers, coho, steelhead, sockeye, and others…..
·bottom-fish: sole, halibut, cod
·clams-steamer & butter
·oysters - native & Pacific
·mussels
·razor clams
·shrimp
·Dungeness Crab
·Albacore tuna
·Scallops
·Herring & smelt
Wild catch & aquaculture
In addition to supporting the local fishery, the region is also the base for the Alaskan and offshore fishing fleets.
Generalized history:
Before steam canning was invented in the 1860's, fishery products were either dried (smoked) or brined.
With the advent of steam canning, the salmon pack skyrocketed.
Fish catch method in the early days--weirs or traps at the mouths of rivers.
The earliest major center of development was in the lower Columbia, which peaked out in the 1890's:
1866: 4,000 cases
1870150,000
1875375,000
1880536,000
1883629,000
1889310,000
1895635,000
then bust, related to over-harvest; in subsequent years less than 200,000 cases.
No early knowledge of the fish life cycle, nor any thought of conservation.
The fishery moved on to Puget Sound, peaking in 1913 at 2,500,000 cases. Mean pack in the prior decade was 1,000,000 cases. Less than 600,000 in subsequent years.
Early logging often involved habitat damage. One common method was to jam river bottoms with cut trees, and wait for winter floods/storms to move the log-jams downstream.
By the 1920's, realization of the impact of logging lead to the establishment of the Dept. of Fisheries to build hatcheries to provide fish that offset the lost habitat.
Gradual improvement in scientific knowledge in the 1920's and the 1930's lead to realization of the salmon's spawning and life cycle, but there was still no limit on the amount of catch.
By the late 1930's plummeting stocks lead to citizen reaction. The voters in Wn. passed Initiative 77, which outlawed traps and gave the Fisheries Dept. control of harvest methods. This also lead to regulation of catch to make it "difficult," .... offshore trolling, gillnet fishing at night, purse seine, etc.
First major regulation of harvest quantities came as a result of the formation of the International Joint Commission between the U.S. and Canada, devoted to recovery of sockeye stocks on the FraserRiver. Continued to today, sufficient escapement is first computed for stock preservation, then the catch is divided between U.S. and Canadian fisherman. (This is only a net fishery, as sockeye do not bite hooks).
Various actions have lead to gradual declines in salmon harvest levels.
·(1) Dam construction on Columbia River system and elsewhere (Elwha; Skagit). In many cases no fish ladders, thereby simply eliminating spawning territory. Other impacts. Failure in planning of Columbia river dams to realize the negative impact on fisheries: evidence from the 1934 Report to Congress from the Secretary of War.
(2)·High seas fishery - net fishery by Japan, Korea, Poland, etc. No regulation of harvest level & recognition of species origin.
(3)·Habitat damage: Pesticides/insecticides associated with agriculture & urbanization; logging; diking/filling of stream spawning grounds; water diversion by agriculture; general impact of urbanization on runoff and water quality
(4)· Lack of regulation of catch in the region
By the 1970's, it was clear that control of catch effort was needed--there were too many fisherman chasing too few fish.
Since then, the states and the federal government have moved to establish more control:
Establishment of a 200 mile economic zone, and development of (regional) Fisheries Commissions to regulate catch in these areas.
Indian Fishing Rights controversy:
·treaties from the 1850's
·initial Boldt decision, to share 50-50 "fish"
·state of Washington behavior
·objections of non-native fishermen, sport fisherman
·subsequent rulings, including emphasis on habitat restoration, and principle of no future degradation/compensation
Development of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council -
realization that the Columbia River water supply was simply not enough to meet the needs of all the users:
.... power generators
.... irrigators
.... flood control
.... fish spawning/downstream passage
.... recreation
.... navigation
There can be no doubt but that power has dominated this set of multiple uses until recently.
Listing of Idaho (and now other) salmon stocks as endangered species - the current posturing of agencies such as BuRec, Corps, Bonneville, PNWPPC, and the DSI's. General strategy has been to install fish passage facilities and richen the "spring freshet."
The enormous Interior Columbia River Basin Ecosystem Management Project as a response (see website address via NorthwestForest and Range Experiments Station in Reference List.
Succeeded by the Federal Caucus, and the development of a Biological Opinion by the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service in 2008 and 2010. See .ppt for some details
Listing of many species of Puget Sound salmon as threatened or endangered species in the last few years. The beginnings of response programs by state, local, and urban governments, today coordinated by NMFS
The growing battle over hatchery vs. wild fish - gene pools--and a fear that dependence on hatchery fish has lead to "weaker" strains. Also concerns about pollution from feces from aquacultural stocks.
Huge studies in B.C. regarding impacts of aquaculture.
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Recent “salmon wars” between B.C. and American Fisherman.
This discussion has emphasized salmon...but recent intensification of effort on other species and advent of commercial aquaculture..
species involved in pen/aquaculture:
.. salmon
.. mussels
.. oysters
.. scallops.
Climatic Impacts – El Nino
Now, in 2015, a cascade of programs aimed at salmon recovery, but at the same time vast disagreement about what will work, what the cost will be of alternatives, and politically what is feasible. Key players in the current battle:
Native American nations
Environmental Organizations
Federal land management agencies
Federal power producing agencies (COE, BR)
Federal agencies with regulatory power (NWPPC, NMFS)
Fisheries Industry Interests
Recreational Sport Fishers
State Government Agencies (E.g. Ecology, Fish & Wildlife)
Local Governments
Where is all this headed as far as the fish are concerned?
The problems extend well beyond salmon.
Water quality problems for oysters
Green crabs entering our habitat (w/ impacts on Dungeness crabs and oysters (Willapa)
Spillover impacts on wildlife: 1/30/2000 story in the Seattle Times regarding Grizzly Bear/Brown Bear foraging in homes in Rivers Inlet B.C., due to lack of fish and being shot as a result. ?Other ecosystem impacts? Birds, other marine species, ….. Very complex issues.