Management Strategies for Columbia River Recreational and Commercial Fisheries--

2013 and Beyond

Oregon and Washington Agency Analysis and Recommendations for Workgroup

November 15, 2012

• Premise: Recreational and commercial fisheries economically vital to OR and WA

• Objective: Optimize economic value within conservation framework

• Key Elements/Principles:• Prioritize recreational fisheries in mainstem; commercial in off-channel• Develop selective commercial gear and techniques; phase out non-

selective gill nets in the mainstem • Enhance off-channel commercial fisheries • Secure conservation benefits (e.g., reducing hatchery fish on spawning

grounds)• Provide a transition period for full implementation• Avoid significant economic loss during transition; ensure overall

economic gains long-term

Background

• Complete policy development in 2012

• Revisit issue in future and adjust course if key assumptions prove wrong

• Key elements are a package and should be considered as a whole

• Flexibility to extend transition slightly if necessary

• Flexibility to moderate 70:30 shift (summer and fall) if necessary to lessen commercial economic loss and reasonable recreational objectives can be met

• Provide conservation benefits by selective mainstem commercial harvest of lower river hatchery coho and Chinook

Additional Clarification/Guidance

Most elements consistent w/Joint-Agency Report

Summer Chinook: No transition; end targeted commercial fisheries in 2013

Sturgeon: If no uptick in 2012, end targeted commercial fishery and allow only catch-and-release recreational fishery

Upriver Bright Chinook: Retain mainstem large-mesh gillnet option above Lewis River in the fall season only

Seines: Begin pilot mainstem commercial fishery 2013

Target mark-selective coho fishery in October

Spring Chinook: Tangle-net only beginning in 2013

Washington Recommendations (10-18-12)

Incorporate WA recommendations into Joint-Agency Report and reconcile differences

Analyze scenario to achieve 0-5% overall impact to commercial fisheries during transition (5-10% now)

Clarify adaptive management strategy and identify elements of a commercial buy-back program

Identify some elements of commercial advisor recommendations to incorporate into Joint-Agency Report

Ask HSRG for review of conservation benefits and risks

WG Directions From Last Meeting

• Modified Joint Agency Report w/appendices• Incorporated WA Workgroup member

recommendations, and reconciled differences into single path forward

• Analyzed scenario to achieve no more than 0-5% overall economic harm to commercial fishery for transition

• Incorporated several elements from Commercial Advisor recommendations (10/10/12)

• Preliminary draft conservation analysis from HSRG• Tangle net regulations

Materials Provided

Transition (2013-2016+)• Allocations: • 70:30 sport:commercial for spring Chinook and sockeye• 60:40 initially (2013-14) for summer Chinook, then 70:30• 65:35 for tule fall Chinook • Upriver Bright: depends on run size and meeting sport obj. (model shows

~40:60 for large runs meets sport objectives and provides commercial access)• No substantive change for coho

• Off-Channel Enhancements: 2013+• 1 M spring Chinook (750k OR, 250k WA): 83% increase• 920k coho (720k OR, 200k WA): 24% increase • 500k select area bright fall Chinook (OR): 33% increase

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12)

Transition (2013-2016+)• “Reasonable” fall Chinook sport fishery objectives: • Buoy 10 through Labor Day• Tongue Pt to Warrior Rock through mid September (MSF?)• Warrior Rock to Bonneville full fishery

• Commercial characteristics:• Mainstem opportunity spring, summer and fall• Tangle and gill nets allowed in mainstem; plus alt gear if approved• 25% more adult Chs in off-channel immediately; ~25% more

adult coho and 33% more SABs mid way through transition• Substantive upriver bright Chf opportunity in mainstem• New opportunity for hatchery tule and coho if alt gear approved

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12)

Transition (2013-2016+)• Recreational Fishery Impacts:• 45k angler trip (15%) increase

• Commercial Fishery Impacts: • $200k to $1.1M (5-30%) increase

• Includes alt gear harvest of hatchery tules and coho

• Includes full harvest of available Upriver Bright fall Chinook

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12)

Long Term (2017+)• Allocations: • 80:20 sport:commercial for spring Chinook and sockeye• 80:20 for summer Chinook; if <90k run no commercial• < 80:20 for tule fall Chinook (model shows 65:35 will meet sport

obj. and provide commercial access to hatchery fish)• < 80:20 for Upriver Bright; depends on run-size and meeting

sport obj. (model shows ~40:60 for large run sizes will meet sport objectives and provide commercial access)

• No substantive change for coho• Off-Channel Enhancements:• Up to 1.25 M spring Chinook (1M OR, 250k WA): ~100% increase• Up to 4.7 M coho (4.5M OR, 200k WA): ~100% increase • 750k select area bright fall Chinook (OR): ~50% increase

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12)

Long Term (2017+)• “Reasonable” fall Chinook sport fishery objectives: • Buoy 10 through Labor Day• Tongue Pt to Warrior Rock through mid September (MSF?)• Warrior Rock to Bonneville full fishery

• Commercial characteristics:• Tangle nets and other selective gear in mainstem• Infrequent opportunity for Chs in mainstem• Off-channel: ~100% more adult Chs; 50% more SAB and coho• Substantive upriver bright Chf opportunity in mainstem• New substantive opportunity for hatchery tule, coho and upriver

bright fall Chinook in mainstem

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12)

Long Term (2017+)• Recreational Fishery Impacts:• 67k angler trip (23%) increase

• Commercial Fishery Impacts: • 2017-20: $550k (15%) increase• 2021+: $840k (23%) increase• Includes alt gear harvest of hatchery tules, coho and upriver bright

fall Chinook in mainstem• Includes full harvest of available Upriver Bright fall Chinook• Includes increased harvest of off-channel salmon

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12)

Sturgeon (2013+)• 10% additional conservation buffer set aside from

harvestable surplus

• Remaining harvestable surplus allocated 80:20 sport: commercial

• If abundance does not increase, allow only non-retention fisheries until decline is reversed

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12)

Additional Measures for Recreational Fishery (Based on Commercial Advisor input)

• Barbless hooks

• Rubber landing nets

• Recovery boxes in guide boats (>20 ft length)

• Restricted sport fishing w/in and adjacent to off-channel areas until economic benefits verified

• 5-fish seasonal limit for CR spring Chinook

• CR Endorsement for OR to help fund plan

• Create limited-entry guide program for CR

• Require guide logbooks

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12)

Continues conservation progressionSmall escapement increase for some wild runs (e.g.,

spring Chinook)Increased harvest rate on hatchery salmonReduced hatchery fish on spawning grounds,

particularly tules, coho and spring Chinook (Sandy/Willamette)

Increased protection of white sturgeonMonitoring and adaptive management important

Conservation Impacts

Adaptive Management• Commissions track implementation and results; initial

review end of 2014, comprehensive review end of transition

• If initial assumptions prove wrong (e.g., >0-5% negative overall economic impact during transition), determine causes and make adjustments to correct course to stay on track• Significantly lower than expected returns to off-

channel sites• Insufficient space in off-channel sites to accommodate

the commercial fleet• Significantly lower than expected mainstem

commercial harvest using selective gears

Adaptive Management

(cont’d):

• Circumstances that delay or preclude implementation

• Significantly lower than expected economic return to commercial fishers

• Conflicts with terms of the US v Oregon Management Agreement

• Failure to meet conservation needs

WG recommendations to WA and OR commissions

Commissions consider policy adoption / OARs at December meetings

Budget needs incorporated into GRB and considered by Legislature in 2013+

New authorities (e.g., gear, ESA coverage) acquired as needed

Next Steps

Questions?

20

Columbia River

Warrior Rock – Lewis R

Tongue Point – Rocky Point

Buoy 10

Astoria-Megler Bridge

Multnomah Channel

Youngs Bay

Deep River

Blind Slough / Knappa

Slough

Tongue Point / South

Channel

Cowlitz River

Select Area SitesWashington

Oregon