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Cowlitz/Columbia River Smelt Fishery Management | |
To view Full Report: Joint
Staff Report Concerning Commercial Seasons for Sturgeon and Smelt in 2008
- PDF Format [768 K]
Prior to 1995 only
minor regulation changes were adopted for Columbia River commercial and
sport smelt fishing seasons. During 1960-1977 commercial smelt fisheries
were open year-round 3½ days per week, except for 1965 and 1966
when the season was expanded to 4½ days per week. Beginning in
1978 the commercial season was expanded to seven days per week. Prior
to 1986 the season was open the entire year but beginning in 1986 the
seaso was reduced to the December-March time frame to better reflect the
run timing of Columbia River smelt. Prior to 1997 the sport fishery was
open seven days per week the entire year.
As Columbia River smelt abundance began to decline during
the early 1990’s, fishery managers recognized the need to restrict
fisheries to increase escapement to spawning areas. Lower Columbia River
mainstem and tributary commercial fisheries were greatly reduced beginning
in 1995. During 1995 and 1996, commercial fisheries were restricted to
fewer fishing days per week, but the season extended through the end of
March. During 1997-2000, commercial fisheries were further reduced to
test fisheries, which ended in mid to late February. These test fisheries
were intended to allow minimal smelt catch to provide fishery managers
with data necessary to assess the annual run strength and provide an opportunity
to sample catch for biological data. Seasons during these test fisheries
were severely restricted in both days per week fished and duration of
the fishing season. Sport fisheries in Washington tributaries were closed
early during 1997-1999 in response to continued poor smelt returns to
the Columbia River.
The Oregon and Washington Joint State's smelt management
and stock assessment activities had included commercial landings accounting,
on-board monitoring of commercial fisheries, sampling of catch for biological
data and age structure, and indexing larval production. The commercial
fishery monitoring program was initiated in 1997 and focused primarily
on the lower Columbia River commercial fishery. Data gathered during catch
sampling and fishery monitoring included daily landings, CPUE, length,
weight, sex, and otolith collection and allowed for analysis of trends
in catch by time and area, run timing, and sex and age composition through
time. Otoliths were collected annually from 1987-1999 with aging data
providing a better understanding of the population dynamics of Columbia
River smelt and possible development of parent/recruit relationships.
These data work in conjunction to provide managers with tools to monitor
annual abundance and stock status.
Joint State Eulachon Management Plan Beginning in 1999 the Washington and Oregon Departments of Fish and Wildlife began work on a Joint State Eulachon Management Plan to guide all aspects of smelt management for future years. During 1999, WDFW and ODFW developed an interim Eulachon Management Plan to guide fishery management decisions in the year 2000 because a draft plan had not been completed prior to adoption of sport and commercial fishing seasons for that year. Fisheries adopted during 2000 were consistent with the interim Eulachon Management Plan. In 2001, the WDFW, with input from ODFW, completed a eulachon management plan, which contains recommended policies concerning smelt fishery management. These policies are considered wise-use management precepts that are consistent with the need to maintain an ecosystem approach to resource decisions. The ecological importance of eulachon is underscored in much of the body of research in the Northeast Pacific ecosystem and should be the fundamental consideration when making fishery management decisions affecting the health of this resource. Policy Recommendations for Eulachon Conservation and Fishery Management From the Joint State Eulachon Management Plan
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