Harvest Management Project 2020

The Tribes completed the 2021 Chinook Salmon Harvest Management Program – data collection and data analysis. As in many previous years, Tribal staff observed a similar level of Tribal membership participation in the fishery, although proportionately lower due to significantly fewer returning adult salmon to Idaho. Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) obtained through roving creel surveys throughout multiple FMAs provided highly accurate and precise estimates of Tribal Chinook salmon harvest in productive areas in the basin. Other fishery management areas were allocated less monitoring effort due to inaccessibility, limited pressure, and/or low numbers of returning adults. The Tribes preliminary harvest estimate is for 321 Chinook salmon adults. Highest observed effort occurred in Bear Valley Creek, South Fork Salmon River, and the Upper Salmon River Mainstem.

Harvest guidelines will be developed using the approved abundance-based sliding-scale harvest management framework for natural-origin populations and hatchery programs, outlined in the TRMP. The harvest guidelines for natural-origin populations are developed to ensure an appropriate number of adult fish escape fisheries to spawn and reproduce. The harvest guidelines for hatchery programs are developed to ensure the hatchery programs meet their broodstock goals. If the co-managers, through TAC modify the production goals for the hatchery programs, the harvest management program will incorporate the changes in the harvest management frameworks and distribute such information accordingly.