Mass Marking and

Electronic Recovery of CWTs

In the Pacific Northwest

Ron Olson

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

Olympia Washington

BackgroundBackgroundPurpose Purpose Provide for Mark Selective FisheriesProvide for Mark Selective Fisheries Hatchery Broodstock ManagementHatchery Broodstock Management

Brood selection for maintaining genetic fitnessBrood selection for maintaining genetic fitness Monitor hatchery/wild ecological Monitor hatchery/wild ecological

interactionsinteractions

RequirementsRequirements ESA listed hatchery broodstock managementESA listed hatchery broodstock management WA State legislative directives (1997 & 1998) WA State legislative directives (1997 & 1998) Federal mandate (2003 & 2004)Federal mandate (2003 & 2004)

Adipose Fin “Mass Adipose Fin “Mass Marking”Marking”

Annual Hatchery Annual Hatchery ProductionProduction

CohoCoho50 million 50 million S. British Columbia, Washington, S. British Columbia, Washington, OregonOregon

ChinookChinook150 million 150 million Washington, Oregon, IdahoWashington, Oregon, Idaho

Complications – The CWT Complications – The CWT SystemSystem

CWT Program Vital to Salmon CWT Program Vital to Salmon

ManagementManagement Fully integrated tagging, sampling and Fully integrated tagging, sampling and

recovery program – California to Alaskarecovery program – California to Alaska

Only method to estimate and monitor Only method to estimate and monitor coast wide fishery exploitation rates on coast wide fishery exploitation rates on individual stocks of coho and Chinook individual stocks of coho and Chinook salmon salmon

Without the CWT programs we would Without the CWT programs we would be virtually blind to fishery impacts and be virtually blind to fishery impacts and unable to separate fishery from marine unable to separate fishery from marine survival effects survival effects

- - Morishima 2007Morishima 2007

Pacific Salmon TreatyPacific Salmon Treaty

The parties of the PST agree to The parties of the PST agree to maintain the CWT program to maintain the CWT program to evaluate fishery regimes and evaluate fishery regimes and monitor stock rebuilding monitor stock rebuilding

Fishing regimes for Chinook and Fishing regimes for Chinook and coho are based on constraining coho are based on constraining Exploitation RatesExploitation Rates for naturally for naturally spawning populationsspawning populations

CWT groups representative of CWT groups representative of natural stocks are tagged and natural stocks are tagged and released for a region wide PSC released for a region wide PSC Indicator Stock ProgramIndicator Stock Program

The ChallengeThe Challenge

Implement a region wide Implement a region wide hatchery marking programhatchery marking program

and and

Maintain the capabilities of the Maintain the capabilities of the CWT system in the presence of CWT system in the presence of Mass Marking (MM) and Mark-Mass Marking (MM) and Mark-Selective Fisheries (MSF)Selective Fisheries (MSF)

The ApproachThe Approach

Change the regional designation Change the regional designation of the adipose markof the adipose mark

Gear up to mark 150 million fish Gear up to mark 150 million fish Convert to Electronic Tag Convert to Electronic Tag

Detection to recover CWTsDetection to recover CWTs Implement a “Double-Index Tag” Implement a “Double-Index Tag”

program to measure the impacts program to measure the impacts of MSFs on wild stocksof MSFs on wild stocks

Double Index TaggingDouble Index TaggingThe Indicator Stock contains two The Indicator Stock contains two

tag groups. tag groups.

The two groups are identical The two groups are identical except :except :

And the other is unmarked

One tag code is marked

This group now represents wild fish

Use difference between marked and Use difference between marked and unmarked returns to estimate total unmarked returns to estimate total MSF mortality of unmarked fishMSF mortality of unmarked fish

Challenges in Mass Challenges in Mass MarkingMarking

Region-wide Hatchery Region-wide Hatchery ProductionProduction Timing of MarkingTiming of Marking

Minimum fish size and limited Minimum fish size and limited windowwindow

5 month marking season5 month marking season

Labor and Equipment Labor and Equipment More efficient trailer designs and More efficient trailer designs and

new technologynew technology CostsCosts

New Fin Clipping TrailersNew Fin Clipping TrailersCrew of 12 – 14 Crew of 12 – 14

60-80,000 fish / day60-80,000 fish / day

Fin Clipping Stations with Fin Clipping Stations with Counting SystemCounting System

Clipping Crew Clipping Crew

““Automatic” TrailersAutomatic” TrailersCrew of 0 – 5Crew of 0 – 5

30-60,000 fish/day (w/o 30-60,000 fish/day (w/o crew)crew)

““AutoFish” System AutoFish” System TechnologyTechnology

Skilled OperatorsSkilled Operators

Current Investment in MM Current Investment in MM TrailersTrailers

Type Type # # UnitsUnits

Approx. Approx. Cost Cost

Total $Total $

Manual Manual ClippingClipping

2323 $70,000$70,000 $ 1,610,000$ 1,610,000

AutomatAutomaticic

2121 $1,000,000$1,000,000 $ $ 21,000,00021,000,000

Total Cost for Region =Total Cost for Region = $ $ 22,610,022,610,0

0000

A) Mass Marked Coho Salmon (Southern BC, WA, OR)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Brood Year

Mill

ions

Coastal Oregon

Columbia River

Coastal Washington

Puget SoundWest Coast Vancouver Is

Strait of Georgia

Total Relase

B) Mass Marked Chinook Salmon (WA and OR)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Brood Year

Mill

ions

Coastal Oregon

Columbia River

Coastal Washington

Puget Sound

Total Release

Proposed Chinook Marking Proposed Chinook Marking for 2009 for 2009 (Washington and (Washington and

Oregon)Oregon)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

MassMarked

CWT +Marked

CWTUnmarked

Unmarked

Mark Status

Mill

ion

s

Annual Mass Marking Costs Annual Mass Marking Costs

((direct costs w/Automatic trailersdirect costs w/Automatic trailers))

11 ODFW, 2002 ODFW, 2002

SpecieSpeciess

ActivityActivity # Fish # Fish (mill)(mill)

(# (# stocks)stocks)

ApplicatiApplicationon

Cost/Cost/1,0001,00011

CostCost

CohoCoho MarkinMarkingg

38.238.2 $ 26$ 26 $ $ 993,200993,200

DITDIT 0.95 (21)0.95 (21) $ 113$ 113 $107,35$107,3500

ChinoChinookok

MarkinMarkingg

101.7101.7 $ 26$ 26 $2,644,2$2,644,20000

DITDIT 3.4 (17)3.4 (17) $ 113$ 113 $384,20$384,2000

Total Cost = Total Cost = $4,128,9$4,128,95050

Electronic CWT Electronic CWT DetectionDetection

Electronic Tag Detection (ETD) Electronic Tag Detection (ETD) EquipmentEquipment How well does it work ?How well does it work ? CostsCosts

Impacts to Agency Sampling Impacts to Agency Sampling ProgramsPrograms

The “Wand” DetectorThe “Wand” Detector

Feasibility of the WandFeasibility of the Wand

Method of choice in situations Method of choice in situations with low fish numbers or with low fish numbers or undeveloped sitesundeveloped sites

No calibration requiredNo calibration required Very portableVery portable Cost = $5,000 (US)Cost = $5,000 (US)

The “Tube” or “Tunnel” Detector

Feasibility of the TubeFeasibility of the Tube

Practical use is limited to high volume Practical use is limited to high volume sites with level ground and clean fishsites with level ground and clean fish

Equipment calibration is criticalEquipment calibration is critical Automatic sorting and counting Automatic sorting and counting

capabilitycapability Staging adaptations (e.g. tote lifts and Staging adaptations (e.g. tote lifts and

custom tables may be necessary to custom tables may be necessary to reduce time and labor) reduce time and labor)

Cost = $29,700 (US)Cost = $29,700 (US)

Results of 1996 Wand Tests Results of 1996 Wand Tests on Cohoon Coho

Sampling TypeSampling Type

Fish Fish SampledSampled CWTs CWTs

Detection Detection

Rate (%)Rate (%)

% False% False

DetectionsDetections

NWIFC HatcheryNWIFC Hatchery 2,5942,594 670670 99.699.6 1.51.5

NWIFC Comm.NWIFC Comm. 1,9671,967 131131 100100 0.50.5

NWIFC StreamNWIFC Stream 154154 8585 97.697.6 0.00.0

WDFW HatcheryWDFW Hatchery 35,41735,417 1,6571,657 99.599.5 0.20.2

WDFW Comm.WDFW Comm. 1,6141,614 7878 100100 0.80.8

WDFW SportWDFW Sport 1,1571,157 6161 85.285.2 3.63.6

TotalsTotals 42,90342,903 2,6822,682 mean = 99.1mean = 99.1

or 97.0 or 97.0

Mean = 0.4Mean = 0.4

or 1.1or 1.1

Results of 1996 Tube Tests Results of 1996 Tube Tests on Cohoon Coho

Sampling TypeSampling Type

Fish Fish SampledSampled CWTs CWTs

Detection Detection

Rate (%)Rate (%)

% False% False

DetectionsDetections

CDFO HatcheryCDFO Hatchery 3,1833,183 7777 98.798.7 1.21.2

CDFO Comm.CDFO Comm. 12,15012,150 457457 100100 0.10.1

NWIFC HatcheryNWIFC Hatchery 1,1871,187 194194 100100 2.82.8

NWIFC Comm.NWIFC Comm. 2,8332,833 154154 92.292.2 2.12.1

WDFW HatcheryWDFW Hatchery 26,47626,476 770770 100100 1.11.1

WDFW Comm.WDFW Comm. 1,4061,406 8080 98.898.8 1.91.9

TotalsTotals 47,23547,235 1,7321,732 mean = 99.2mean = 99.2

or 98.2 or 98.2

Mean = 0.9Mean = 0.9

or 1.5or 1.5

Study

Detection Rate

ADFG (1995)

98 %

NWIFC/USFWS (1999)

99 %

CDFO (1999)

96 %

WDFW (1999)

91 %

Early Chinook Wanding Early Chinook Wanding StudiesStudies

Chinook Mouth Chinook Mouth WandingWanding

Results of Chinook Mouth Wanding Results of Chinook Mouth Wanding StudiesStudies

% Detections

Study#

CWTs

Standard

Wanding

Combined

Wanding

TubeDetector

WDFW, 2001 Hatchery 1,332 90.5 99.3 100

NWIFC, 2001Hatchery 368 99.7 99.7 100

ADFG, 2004-06Troll

2,534 98.2 99.9

CDFO, 2003-04Gill net

115 61.7

CDFO, 2006Troll 435 94.0

CDFO, 2004-05Spawning ground

591 91.0

Current Agency Investment Current Agency Investment in ETD Equipmentin ETD Equipment

TypeType # # UnitsUnits

Cost Cost 11 Total $Total $

Wands Wands 800800 $5,000$5,000 $ $ 4,000,0004,000,000

TubesTubes 114114 $29,70$29,7000

$ $ 3,385,8003,385,800

Total Investment =Total Investment = $ $ 7,385,8007,385,800

11 Current cost per unit Current cost per unit

CWT Sampling MethodsCWT Sampling MethodsRegion Fishery Method

Alaska All Visual

British Columbia Commercial Coho Electronic / Visual

Sport Coho Visual - Voluntary

Commercial Chinook

Electronic / Visual

Sport Chinook Visual - Voluntary

Washington All Electronic

Idaho All Electronic

Columbia River All Electronic

Oregon Coast Coho Electronic

Chinook Visual

California All Visual

Projected Number of BY 2008 MM Projected Number of BY 2008 MM ChinookChinook

to be Encountered by to be Encountered by Visual CWT Sampling ProgramsVisual CWT Sampling Programs

State/ProvinceState/Province # Fish # Fish EncounteredEncountered

AlaskaAlaska 10,00010,000

British ColumbiaBritish Columbia 25,40025,400

CaliforniaCalifornia 9,3009,300

SummarySummary

Logistical issues of MM hatchery Logistical issues of MM hatchery production have been met.production have been met.

Mass Marking is now an integral Mass Marking is now an integral component of NW hatchery production. component of NW hatchery production.

DIT component has not had the necessary DIT component has not had the necessary funding support outside of Washington funding support outside of Washington StateState

Summary Cont. Summary Cont.

ETD EquipmentETD Equipment High detection ratesHigh detection rates Expensive for agencies to gear upExpensive for agencies to gear up Challenges for processing plantsChallenges for processing plants

Sampling IssuesSampling Issues CWT sampling more labor intensive CWT sampling more labor intensive

for all agencies.for all agencies. Current geographical range of ETD Current geographical range of ETD

limited. limited. Sampling rates may be impacted for Sampling rates may be impacted for

agencies using visual sampling.agencies using visual sampling.

Summary of Costs for Current Summary of Costs for Current Marking and SamplingMarking and Sampling

One Time CostsOne Time Costs Marking Trailers Marking Trailers = $ 22,610,000= $ 22,610,000 ETD Equipment ETD Equipment = = $ 7,385,800$ 7,385,800

Total Total = $ 29,995,800= $ 29,995,800

Annual Direct CostsAnnual Direct Costs Mass Marking Mass Marking = $ 4,128,950= $ 4,128,950 DIT Groups DIT Groups = $ 491,550= $ 491,550 DIT Processing = $ 384,700 DIT Processing = $ 384,700 11

Add. Sampling Add. Sampling = = $ 524,300 $ 524,300 11

Total = $ Total = $ 5,529,5005,529,500

Agency Program Costs $44 - 48 / 1,000 Agency Program Costs $44 - 48 / 1,000 fish fish 22

11 From Bowhay, 2004 From Bowhay, 2004 22 USFWS and WDFW, 2007 USFWS and WDFW, 2007

Summary Cont.Summary Cont.

Mass Marking has provided Mass Marking has provided fishery managers and fishery managers and enhancement biologists with enhancement biologists with powerful new tools: powerful new tools:

MSFs MSFs

Differentiation of Hatchery Differentiation of Hatchery and Wild fishand Wild fish

Summary Cont.Summary Cont.

“Mass marking of hatchery fish by removing adipose fins should not be permitted until assurances are received from substantially affected jurisdictions that CWTs will be electronically sampled.” Recommendation of PSC Selective Fishery Evaluation, 1995

Unfortunately, CWT programs, DIT programs, and CWT sampling programs are no longer adequately synchronized between NW agencies.

The End