FY 2017 Makah Tribe Salmon Conservation – Harvest Management and Hatchery Assessments

Project funds helped support the position of the salmon biologist. The Makah Fisheries Department Salmon Biologist attended the North of Falcon and Pacific Fisheries Management Commission meetings, where she helped coordinate the annual regulatory regime that was be used to manage the fisheries taking place in CY 2019 and 2020. The Salmon Biologist was also responsible for the bulk of in-season forecasting and management which was essential for real-time decision making concerning each fishery. The Salmon Biologist oversaw and coordinated the tribal salmon sampling program, and coordinated strategies with the Makah National Fish Hatchery with concern to their hatchery program, to ensure a sustainable and continuing source of income and ceremonial fish.

The goal of the Makah Tribal Salmon Biologist is to manage, maintain, and maximize sustainable tribal fishing opportunity, and to represent and protect Makah tribal treaty rights. Duties also include corresponding and communicating with other tribal and state co-managers to coordinate fisheries so as to optimize management strategies, and to manage fisheries as the season progresses to ensure that all regulations and quotas are maintained.