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
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