| Reference ID: DFW282576 | | Critical Conservation Need Submission Type: Public | Rules Category:
Puget Sound Region Freshwater | Species covered in proposed rule
• Steelhead
| Rule to Change:
Skagit River, All Other Trout, Minimum Size 14", June 1st - Jan 31st, Daily Limit: 2 | New Rule Proposal:
Proposed rule:
Skagit River (Entire River and Tributaries below fish barriers) - All resident steelhead (rainbow trout) must be immediately released when fishing in the Puget Sound rivers which have ESA listed steelhead. Selective gear rules required when fishing for all trout species in these rivers to prevent excess impacts to resident rainbows.
| Why the change is needed:
Wild steelhead in Puget Sound are ESA listed as threatened and resident rainbow trout (o.mykiss) can play an important role in the recovery and rebuilding of the wild anadromous populations.
Resident rainbow/steelhead are important in the mating, gene flow, productivity and overall stock health and viability of wild anadromous steelhead (Christie, 2012; McMillan, 2007).
Recent research has shown that 20%-40% of returning anadromous steelhead have at least one resident parent and may have two. Each form (resident and
anadromous) is dependent on the other for continued survival and recovery from adverse conditions.
Fishing for resident rainbows/steelhead at a 14" size limit removes many valuable spawners and inflicts a high CnR mortality rate on juvenile anadromous and resident steelhead which can exceed 30%. Conserving resident rainbow trout will shorten the time necessary for Puget Sound wild steelhead to recover and improve their stock size, genetic diversity and health.
| Names of individuals or groups with whom you have discussed this change:
Native Fish Society, Wild Steelhead Coalition, Scott Willison (Membership Chair, Coastal Conservation Association) | Describe their support and/or concerns:
There is support for this change by both Native Fish Society and Wild Steelhead Coalition as well as most individuals to which I have spoken. There is a high level of concern regarding our Puget Sound steelhead and resident rainbow populations especially in the Skagit watershed. There are no known concerns relating to this requested rule change. | | Submitted by: MEGILL, ED L — DEMING, WA Date submitted: 06/13/2012 |
Reference ID: DFW282576 This regulation is unnecessary for conservation. Much of the Skagit basin is now under catch and release, selective gear regulations (see Skagit above Marblemount Bridge, Cascade River, Sauk River regulations) where the vast amount of rainbow trout in the system reside. Very few rainbow trout are harvested now with the minimum size restrictions in place, and there is limited area in which rainbows are present in any numbers. This regulation would limit anglers' ability to catch salmon and hatchery steelhead in times and places where hatchery fish are abundant, and impede the ability to effectively use angling as a means to remove hatchery strays from spawning with wild populations.
RINGLEE, CHRISTOPHER D January 08, 2013
GIG HARBOR, WA
Comments:
If WDFW is concerned with anglers being used as a mechanism to cull straying hatchery fish in the wild, then WDFW should implement regulations requiring the mandatory retention of hatchery strays. LAWRENCE, ANDREW R January 23, 2013
LYNNWOOD, WA
Comments:
I support this proposal for the reasons noted above. URABECK, FRANK January 29, 2013
BONNEY LAKE, WA
Comments:
Agree with DFW that this proposal should get no further consideration
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