FY 2020 Makah Tribe Salmon Conservation – Harvest Management and Hatchery Assessments

This project supported the salmon biologist harvest management operations. The Makah Fisheries Department Salmon Biologist attended the North of Falcon and Pacific Fisheries Management Commission meetings to participate in the coordination and management of annual fisheries. This included in-season forecasting and management for the Makah Tribe for real-time decision making concerning each fishery to manage, maintain, and maximize sustainable tribal fishing opportunities, and to represent and protect Makah tribal treaty rights and conserve threatened resources. The salmon biologist oversaw and coordinated the tribal salmon sampling program and coordinated strategies with the Makah National Fish Hatchery regarding their hatchery program to ensure a sustainable and continuing source of fish. Duties also included corresponding and communicating with other tribal and state co-managers to coordinate fisheries to optimize management strategies and manage fisheries as the season progressed to ensure that all regulations and quotas were maintained.

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.