Project 1990-077-00:Development of Systemwide Predator Control, Contract 78040 REL 26:1990-077-00 EXP NORTHERN PIKEMINNOW MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Project 1990-077-00:

https://www.cbfish.org/Project.mvc/Display/1990-077-00



The Northern Pikeminnow Management Program (NPMP) is a basin-wide program to harvest northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis). It was started in 1991 in an effort to reduce predation by northern pikeminnow on juvenile salmonids during their emigration from natal streams to the ocean.



Contract 78040 REL 26:

https://www.cbfish.org/Contract.mvc/Summary/78040 REL 26



The Northern Pikeminnow Management Program (NPMP) is a basin-wide program to harvest northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis). It was started in 1991 in an effort to reduce predation by northern pikeminnow on juvenile salmonids during their emigration from natal streams to the ocean. Modeling studies in John Day reservoir in the 1980s indicated a 10-20% removal of predacious sized pikeminnows could cut predation by up to 50%. Over the years various gear types, both sport and commercial, were tested to determine the most expeditious means to remove 10-20% of the pikeminnows. The Sport Reward Fishery using sport anglers with hook and line was found to be the most effective. The NPMP is administered technically and fiscally by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) in cooperation with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Program evaluation, population indexing, tagging operations, and other predator response is studied and evaluated by ODFW. The Sport Reward Fishery is implemented by WDFW through manning Sport Reward Fishery registration stations, collecting and disposing of pikeminnows caught and issuance of reward vouchers. The PSMFC pays all rewards and assists WDFW in staffing the registration stations along with fiscal and technical services to the two state agencies. The NPMP is currently in the management phase of the program, having explored and refined the most effective techniques to remove pikeminnows over the past twenty-nine years. The applied research component handled by ODFW continues each year along with the management component. 2019 was another very successful year for the NPMP with a total of 146,225 pikeminnow removed via the Sport Reward and Dam Angling programs. Pikeminnow removals resulted in meeting the programs exploitation rate goals coming in at just over 16% for 2019. We anticipate conducting dam angling program again in 2020.