Harvest Management

The 2011 Ceremonial Fishery began on March 26, 2011 and was completed on May 1, 2011. The Fish and Wildlife Committee approved an allocation of 1,800 – 2,000 fish. Gill nets were used to harvest the fish with no nets longer than 400 ft. in length. This year the Committee designated a total of 8 Ceremonial fishermen who fished in the Bonneville Pool from Cascade Locks (RM 150) to Lyle (RM 187). Virgil Culps and Eric Queahpama were the first fishermen in the water and had a target of 280 fish each.

During the Ceremonial Fishery there was CTWS staff obtained 629 genetic samples. The samples were taken to meet the objectives of the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) through the Pacific Salmon Commission. Staff sent the samples to be analyzed at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission’s Hagerman Genetics Laboratory. The results of the sampling will be known in 2012. All but 75 fish were checked for Passive Integrated Transponder chips. Fisheries staff detected 34 tags.

These fish are preyed upon by Steller’s (Eumetopias jubatus, western Pacific stock endangered- 1990; eastern Pacific stock threatened- 1990) and California sea lions (Zalophus californianus, common, not listed) while passage is delayed by Bonneville Dam. California sea lions are much more abundant at the dam than Steller’s. This year staff did not separate net damaged fish from seal bites. We documented 50 fish (799 lbs) or 39.5% fish damaged by nets or seals. By far, nets damaged more fish than sea lions. Last year’s seal damage was 49 fish (658 lbs) or 2.16% of the catch. Using these numbers as a surrogate we estimate 43 fish had seal marks. Three percent had seal damage in 2009.

CTSW staff participating on this year’s fishery were: Larry Holliday, Jens Lovtang, Stanley Simtustus Jr., Jordan Holliday, Bob Heath, Arthur Mitchell and Mark Manion.

The CTWS utilized 3 fishing sites in Zone 6 (Bonneville to McNary dams): Koberg (Hood River), Cascade Locks and Lyle, Washington. The eight crews selected to participate in the fishery were:

Warm Springs Allocation: up to 2,200 fish
Under catch: 179 fish

Total Fish Harvested: 2,021 fish

Total Pounds: 26,457

Average weight: 13.09 lbs

The project will provide information regarding the number of hatchery vs. wild origin upriver spring Chinook salmon harvested in the 2010 ceremonial fishing season, as well as information on other non-target species captured. Genetic information collected from harvested fish will help in determining timing of the Columbia River many spring Chinook stocks. Close monitoring of the fishery will provide compliance with the US vs. Oregon multi-year agreement regarding tribal harvest. A limitation or reduction in the over harvest of target species and incidental catch of non-target species will allow for improved escapement of salmon and steelhead to spawning areas.