Fisheries Managers Concerned Over Low Salmon Returns

Fisheries managers with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game are closely monitoring the disappointing return of Chinook salmon. As of Sunday May 15, only 10,937 Chinook were counted at Lower Granite Dam, the final hurdle on their return migration to Idaho. The updated forecast suggests that fewer than 30,000 adult spring and summer Chinook will cross Lower Granite Dam, compared to about 92,000 that were predicted before the migration started. At this point the department has only made one adjustment to the season, by closing the lower portion of the Snake River. State law only allows the Department of Fish and Game to close fisheries. The Department cannot make changes to the rules. However, fisheries managers will be updating the Fish and Game Commission (the governing body) at a scheduled meeting in Montpelier on Thursday May 19. The Commission has the ability to make changes to salmon rules beyond simply closing seasons. Fisheries managers are concerned about the low returns of both hatchery and natural-origin fish. Fish and Game needs a certain number of hatchery salmon to achieve hatchery broodstock goals, and only the surplus is considered harvestable. The Department is also charged with protecting natural-origin salmon in Idaho, most of which are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Hatchery spring Chinook returning to the Clearwater and Little Salmon Rivers are not protected. However, because of the hatchery needs fisheries managers must be very careful how many hatchery salmon they allow recreational anglers to harvest. "The Clearwater sport fishery is based on abundance" said Clearwater Fishery Manager Ed Schriever "Hatcheries in the basin operated by IDFG, the USFWS, and the Nez Perce Tribe need approximately 4200 fish to meet brood stock goals. The number of hatchery fish returning to the Clearwater in excess of 4200 is determined to be surplus and available for state and tribal harvest sharing." At this point Schriever says that total surplus for all fisheries in the Clearwater drainage may be as low as 1,800 salmon. The number of fish harvested on the Clearwater will fluctuate as spring rains cause the river level to fluctuate. Managers are monitoring the catch rate to ensure some of the surplus fish are available for fisheries up river from the mainstem Clearwater. As of Monday May 16, a total of 219 salmon had been harvested in the lower Clearwater River. "Based on public comment and management direction, IDFG intends on reserving a portion of the State share of the Clearwater River surplus to ensure opportunity to conduct salmon fisheries throughout the basin, including the South Fork and Lochsa Rivers." In the meantime, managers will closely monitor harvest rates on the mainstem Salmon. Because naturally produced Chinook in the mainstem Salmon are protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Federal Government limits the "incidental take" of those fish. Incidental take refers to the percentage salmon that die after being caught and released by anglers targeting hatchery Chinook. "The downgraded Lower Granite salmon count is translating into a very small, level of incidental take to manage a salmon fishery in the main Salmon River near Riggins" Schriever said. As of May 16 Fish and Game estimates 8 Chinook had been harvested on the Mainstem Salmon, and none on the Little Salmon. The total surplus of Rapid River Hatchery spring Chinook for state and tribal fisheries may be as low as 1,600 adults. Fisheries managers are considering season options that would reduce fishing pressure to deal the small number of surplus hatchery fish available for harvest and will take their recommendations to the Fish and Game Commission meeting on Thursday. The department will update anglers about any season changes, as well as harvest information through statewide media releases and on the internet at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov