Coded Wire Tagging (CWT) of Sol Duc Hatchery Summer Coho

This CWT project was essential for the Quileute Tribe to evaluate and better manage the summer coho program. Using CWTs, we differentiated and compared summer and fall hatchery coho programs. The previous tagging event for the summer coho program was for return years 2006 and 2007. This project also provided greater knowledge of catch rates along the Pacific coast and possible migratory routes for this unique stock of summer coho.

Coded wire tagging of summer coho will allow for differentiation between summer and fall Sol Duc hatchery stocks. Additionally, this project allows for the re-examination and assessment of summer and fall hatchery harvest rates, primary catch location, migratory paths, survival rates (ocean exploitation rate), potential rearing strategies, and straying of hatchery fish. Lastly, the CWT program will aid in better management for overlapping returns of adult summer and fall hatchery coho stocks in the Quileute Tribe IGN fishery.