February 5, 2003

Integrating Fisheries Management Into

Comprehensive Recovery Planning

Jeff Koenings, Randy KinleyMike Grayum, Curt Kraemer, Kit

Rawson

February 5, 2003

Washington's Goals forWashington's Goals forSalmon RecoverySalmon Recovery

Statewide Strategy to Recover Salmon:

“Restore salmon, steelhead, and trout populations to healthy

harvestable levels and improve those habitats on which the fish

rely.”

Shared Strategy Objective:

"Recover and maintain an abundance of naturally spawning

salmon at harvestable levels"

February 5, 2003February 5, 2003

In Puget Sound: 74% of coho & 85% of chinook

caught are hatchery origin

Hatchery fish predominate Hatchery fish predominate in harvestin harvest

Wild chinook, coho, sockeye, pink and chum also contribute significantly to fisheries

In the Columbia River: 95% of coho & 78% of chinook caught are hatchery origin

February 5, 2003February 5, 2003

Economic role of fisheries in Economic role of fisheries in WashingtonWashington

Washington sport fishers spend $854

million per year

Washington ranks 8th in nation in spending by sport fishers

Washington commercial landing values average $145.3 million per year

Washington ranks 7th in nation on commercial fishery landing values

February 5, 2003

Economic role of fish & Economic role of fish & wildlife in Washingtonwildlife in Washington

48,107 related jobs*

$4.83 billion in relatedexpenditures perbiennium**

Commercial 19%

Hunting14%

Fishing33%

Wildlife Watching

34%

* 2001, Washington Employment Security Department and Southwick Associates** U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

February 5, 2003

Where have we been?Where have we been?

Less than half of Snohomish chinook returned to spawn

February 5, 2003February 5, 2003

Pacific Pacific Northwest Northwest

Chinook Salmon Chinook Salmon are Widely are Widely

DistributedDistributed

Less mixture of stocks & species

Least mixture of stocks & species

Greatest mixture of stocks & species

February 5, 2003February 5, 2003

Salmon Salmon Management Management

Forums are Forums are Coordinated Coordinated

CoastwideCoastwideCoastwide:

Pacific Salmon Treaty

Ocean:Pacific Fisheries Mgmt. Council

Puget Sound:WDFW & tribes

February 5, 2003

WDFW & Tribal activities WDFW & Tribal activities require ESA Authorizationrequire ESA Authorization

State-tribal harvest management plans obtained ESA section 4(d) sanction for Puget Sound chinook salmon and summer chum, in addition to 3 concurrent Section 7 applications for fisheries affecting these fish & EIS.Hatchery Management Plans: 128 plans submitted for state, tribal and co-operative hatchery operations, seeking section 4(d) determination, in addition to nine existing Section 10 permits & EPA permits.Research authorization: Submitted for more than 50 fish research projects in Puget Sound & the Columbia River.Fishery Management and Evaluation Plans: 3 plans submitted for 4(d) determination on non-salmon fisheries that could impact listed fish.Section 6 cooperative agreement for hatchery & research impacts to bull trout.

February 5, 2003

Impacts on Puget Sound salmon Impacts on Puget Sound salmon have been substantially have been substantially reducedreduced

Then

Less than 50%

About 75%

Now

February 5, 2003

Tools for Tools for Managing Managing FisheriesFisheries

Fishing location Timing & duration

of seasons and openings

Sub-area Closures

Special area ("bubble") fisheries

Size limits

Gear restrictions (mesh size, bait,

lures)

Selective release (species, marked

fish)

Gear types (beach seines, traps, fish

wheels, tangle nets, weirs)

February 5, 2003

Coded-Wire Tags provide Coded-Wire Tags provide critical scientific critical scientific

informationinformation

Chinook and coho stock identificationHelp estimate migration routes, population size & fisheries impactsEvaluate fisheries plans such as Comp. Chinook & PST

February 5, 2003

Puget Puget Sound Sound HatcheriHatcheries with es with CWT CWT programprogramss

10 New chinook CWT Programs 2002

19 Coho CWT programs

February 5, 2003

51% of Listed Stocks 51% of Listed Stocks Show Increasing Show Increasing SpawnersSpawners

45 listed salmonid populations, representing 51% of those surveyed, showed improved spawner numbers in the period from 1996-2000 as compared with 1990-1995 averages.

Has the number of progeny

from these

additional spawners increased

?

February 5, 2003

Pacific Decadal OscillationPacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) (PDO) January 1925 - March 2003

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

1925

1930

1935

1940

1945

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

PD

O In

de

x

PDO Negative - Ocean Conditions Good for Puget Sound ChinookPDO Positive - Ocean Conditions Poor for Puget Sound Chinook12 Month Moving Average

Data Source: N. Mantua, University of Washington

February 5, 2003

PDO Up Close:PDO Up Close:January 1995 - March 2003

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

Jan

-1995

Ju

l-1995

Jan

-1996

Ju

l-1996

Jan

-1997

Ju

l-1997

Jan

-1998

Ju

l-1998

Jan

-1999

Ju

l-1999

Jan

-2000

Ju

l-2000

Jan

-2001

Ju

l-2001

Jan

-2002

PD

O In

de

x

PDO Negative - Ocean Conditions Good for Puget Sound ChinookPDO Positive - Ocean Conditions Poor for Puget Sound Chinook12 Month Moving Average

Data Source: N. Mantua, University of Washington

February 5, 2003

Oregon Coho Marine Oregon Coho Marine Survival RateSurvival Rate1971-20011971-2001

What does it all mean?What does it all mean?

1. Fisheries are impacting fewer listed fish so more return to spawning grounds

2. ESA compliance concerns are being, or have been, addressed such that fisheries are not precluding recovery of listed salmon

3. Increasing marine survival through the PDO will deliver still more spawners over near term

4. Opportunity: Jumpstarting recovery

February 5, 2003

Integrating fisheries Integrating fisheries management into recovery management into recovery planningplanning

Aspects of salmonid life history that are fundamental to how we manage fisheriesHow does the Puget Sound chinook harvest plan work?How does harvest affect recovery?The H's MUST work together!

Salmon are inherently Salmon are inherently productiveproductive

10

7

Survival Under Good Freshwater

Conditions

~22%

990

~1%

~70%

(based on Seiler, et al., April 1998, 1997 Skagit River Wild Chinook Production Evaluation, research funded by Seattle City Light; project ongoing 1989-present)

4,500

Life Stage Survival

3.5 returns per spawner

"Capacity" & "Productivity""Capacity" & "Productivity"

Productivity:Proportion of fish that survive from one life

stage to another: e.g., from egg to smolt or

spawner to adult return

Capacity:Number of

spawners that fit into the spawning

habitat

Productivity is affected at every life Productivity is affected at every life stagestage

Life Stage Factor

Hatcheries,Freshwater & Estuarine

Habitat

MarineSurvival

Fisheries

Freshwater conditions have Freshwater conditions have dramatic effects on productivitydramatic effects on productivity

(based on Seiler, et al., April 1998, 1997 Skagit River Wild Chinook Production Evaluation, research funded by Seattle City Light; project ongoing 1989-present)

10

7

Survival Under Good Freshwater

Conditions

~22%

4,500

990

~1%

~70%

~3%

4,500

~1%

<1

135

Poor Freshwater Conditions

Less than 1 return per spawner

Life Stage Survival

Spawners

Retu

rnin

g A

du

lts

1:1 Replacement Line

healthy population

declining population

Harvestable

Salmon populations are Salmon populations are density dependentdensity dependent

Key messagesKey messages

Salmon are inherently productiveWith good habitat conditions, sufficient fish are produced to provide harvest without reducing future productionProductivity is affected at every life stageHealth & capacity of habitat can dramatically affect population productivity & abundanceFisheries must be responsive to a population's underlying productivity, which is dependent upon the quality & quantity of its habitat

February 5, 2003

What do we mean when we What do we mean when we say “harvest" & "impacts”say “harvest" & "impacts”

Landed CatchFish that die as a result of their encounter with fishing gear:

Hooking mortalityFish dropping out of nets

All fishing-related mortality

February 5, 2003

What do we mean when we What do we mean when we say “harvest" & "impacts”say “harvest" & "impacts”

Each fishery catches fish from many different streamsImpacts are examined at the scale of the population

E.g. Skagit coho impacts differentiated from Hood Canal coho impacts

Impacts are examined throughout migration (Alaska, Canada, southern U.S. coast, Puget Sound, instream)

February 5, 2003

Puget Sound Chinook Puget Sound Chinook Harvest PlanHarvest Plan

To ensure that harvest does not impede recovery, need a plan that …

… Ensures sufficient spawners to maintain population stability, given current habitat productivity… Sets maximum allowable recovery harvest rates

Plan must allow populations to expand as habitat improves

February 5, 2003

Puget Sound Chinook Harvest Puget Sound Chinook Harvest Plan Plan Hypothetical Puget Sound Chinook Stock

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f ad

ult

po

pu

lati

on

har

vest

ed

Extreme low abundanceMax. fishery restrictions

Low abundance threshold

Number of Spawners

February 5, 2003

Low Abundance ThresholdLow Abundance Threshold

Low abundance threshold safeguards against extremely low numbers of spawners

Ensures sufficient spawner numbers to maintain population stability

Low abundance threshold triggers maximum fishery restrictions

February 5, 2003

Puget Sound Chinook Harvest Puget Sound Chinook Harvest PlanPlan Hypothetical Puget Sound Chinook StockP

rop

ort

ion

of

adu

lt p

op

ula

tio

n h

arve

sted

Rebuilding

Extreme low abundance

Max. 30% harvest

Max. fishery restrictions

Low abundance thresholdCurrent estimate of habitat

productivity & capacity

Number of SpawnersHabitat productivity & capacity

increases

February 5, 2003

Maximum harvest rates Maximum harvest rates during recovery …during recovery …

Provide sufficient spawners to take advantage of improving quality & quantity of habitat, & ...

Avoid risk of stock instability by employing population size (abundance) thresholds

Provide sufficient spawners to enable recovery even during worst-case marine survivals

February 5, 2003

Puget Sound Chinook Harvest Puget Sound Chinook Harvest PlanPlan Hypothetical Puget Sound Chinook StockP

rop

ort

ion

of

adu

lt p

op

ula

tio

n h

arve

sted

Rebuilding

Extreme low abundance Max. ?%

harvestMax. 30%

harvestMax. fishery restrictions

Recovered

Low abundance thresholdCurrent estimate of habitat

productivity & capacity

Number of SpawnersHabitat productivity & capacity

increases

Recovery is achieved

February 5, 2003

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

1983 2000

Snohomish ChinookSnohomish Chinook"Then" & "Now""Then" & "Now"

Source: Fishery Regulation Assessment Model, 2001 Calibration

spawners

harvest

2001 maximum

% o

f A

du

lt P

op

ula

tio

n H

arve

sted

February 5, 2003

Current harvest plan provides Current harvest plan provides for recovery of wild salmon …for recovery of wild salmon …

Ensures sufficient spawners to maintain population stabilityEnsures sufficient spawners to take advantage of improving habitat during recoveryAvoids risk of stock instability by employing abundance thresholdsAccounts for all fishing-related impacts across all fisheriesIncorporates uncertainty in data & the environment, & minimizes risk

February 5, 2003

Total abundance of Snohomish Total abundance of Snohomish chinook has declined despite chinook has declined despite stable spawner numbersstable spawner numbers

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

1983 1987 1991 1995

Spawners Returning Adults

Source: Comprehensive Chinook Management Plan DRAFT Dec. 2000

Num

bers

of f

ish

Declining productivity

February 5, 2003

photophoto

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Harv

est R

ate

1980198319861989199219951998Year

Natural Skykomish ChinookCatch

Natural Skykomish ChinookNatural Skykomish ChinookCatchCatch

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

% U

nharv

este

d

1980198319861989199219951998Year

Natural Skykomish ChinookSpawners = 1 - (harvest rate)

Natural Skykomish ChinookNatural Skykomish ChinookSpawnersSpawners = 1 – (harvest rate) = 1 – (harvest rate)

North Fork StillaguamishNorth Fork StillaguamishSupplementation Program Supplementation Program

SpawnersSpawners

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001

Supplementation Spawners

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001

North Fork StillaguamishNorth Fork StillaguamishNatural Origin SpawnersNatural Origin Spawners

Natural Spawners

North Fork StillaguamishNorth Fork Stillaguamish

Supplementation fish Supplementation fish increasing; Natural fish increasing; Natural fish

stablestable

Natural Spawners

Supplementation Spawners

North Fork StillaguamishNorth Fork Stillaguamish

Supplementation fish Supplementation fish increasing; Natural fish increasing; Natural fish

stablestable

Natural Spawners

Supplementation Spawners

North Fork SkykomishNorth Fork SkykomishBull Trout ReddsBull Trout Redds

Num

ber

of

redds

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Key messagesKey messages

Harvest can only be expected to do so much

Reduced harvest may buy additional time while we implement changes in the other "H's"

February 5, 2003

How does harvest How does harvest management relate to local management relate to local recovery planning?recovery planning?

February 5, 2003

Frequently asked Frequently asked questionsquestions

Why should I cut back on

fishing when there isn’t any

decent place in the river for the

fish to go to anyway?

February 5, 2003

Frequently asked Frequently asked questionsquestions

Why should I leave a buffer

when they aren’t letting any fish

through the nets to use the river

anyway?

February 5, 2003

How do harvest and habitat How do harvest and habitat management work together for management work together for recovery?recovery?

Habitat condition determines height of the production curveHarvest determines where you are on the production curve

Both must be managed for recovery to happen

Example: NF Stillaguamish Example: NF Stillaguamish Production CurvesProduction Curves

0

4,000

8,000

12,000

16,000

20,000

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

Natural Spawners

Re

cru

its

Historic

Recovery Goal

Current

February 5, 2003

Transition to recoveryTransition to recovery

0

4,000

8,000

12,000

16,000

20,000

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

Natural Spawners

Recru

its

Historic

Recovery

Current

Recovery Habitat improvement

Harvest reduction

February 5, 2003

How do harvest and hatchery How do harvest and hatchery management work together for management work together for recovery?recovery?

Hatchery production can:Maintain fishing opportunitySubstitute for wild fish and therefore reduce harvest of wild fishHelp “jump-start” depressed runs

Hatchery fish must not:Contribute to increased harvest of wild fishOverpopulate limited natural habitat

Therefore: Hatchery/Harvest/Habitat plans must be coordinated

February 5, 2003

Example: Snohomish Example: Snohomish hatchery chinookhatchery chinook

Problem: Low harvest rates lead to high abundance of hatchery fish in river.Solution: Provide selective harvest opportunity on hatchery fish.

Mark all hatchery fish with adipose finclipAllow harvest of marked fish only in limited time and area where hatchery fish predominate

Coordinated management plan must:Account for impacts to wild fishAssure enough hatchery fish pass through to perpetuate hatchery run

February 5, 2003

Example: Tulalip hatchery Example: Tulalip hatchery chinookchinook

Problem: Declining wild runs threaten traditional tribal fisheriesSolution: Provide concentrated return of hatchery fish to Tulalip Bay

Time and area fishery management

Coordinated management plan needs

Account for impacts to wild fish

February 5, 2003

Example: Tulalip hatchery Example: Tulalip hatchery chinookchinook

Results Fishery is 95% Tulalip hatchery fish90%+ of Tulalip hatchery fish are harvested

February 5, 2003

Example: NF Stillaguamish Example: NF Stillaguamish supplementationsupplementation

Problem: Poor productivity suggests Stillaguamish chinook need a “jump start”Solution: Provide hatchery production that can return to natural spawning areasCoordinated management plan needs

Harvest rates on these hatchery fish are kept low – they are not markedAdjust program level appropriate for available habitatScale back program when natural productivity improves

All H’s contribute to All H’s contribute to recovery but at different recovery but at different time scalestime scales

YEARS

POPU

LA

TIO

N S

IZE

DECLINE

STABILIZATION

RECOVERY

Harvest reduction

Habitat improvement

Habitat improvementeffect

Harvest reduction effect

February 5, 2003

The “H’s” work togetherThe “H’s” work together

Harvest plan designed to not impede recoveryHabitat protection and restoration facilitate recoveryHatchery programs do bothA recovery plan must integrate the “H’s”Don’t be fooled by marine survival fluctuations

Jon. Anderson

WDFW Archives

Debbie Preston

For information, contact:

Mike Grayum,

NWIFCCurt

Kraemer, WDFW

Kit Rawson, Tulalip Tribes