Where and How Columbia Coho Die

[cosmo]

Following is the info off a PFMC chart, March 17, 2003. This is a fishery overview given some of the options that were on the table. This is NOT the final. It just shows an example of how and where and by whom coho are harvested and die. The fish in question are early and late returning COLUMBIA RIVER coho. M=Marked/Clipped, U=Unmarked. The numbers show some interesting info.

Total Ocean Abundance 871,247
M=795,806
U=75,441

Non-US v. Oregon Catch And Mortality
M=954
U=18

Treaty Troll Catch and Mortality (Tribal Troll)
M=22,118
U=2,375

US v OR Nontreaty Area Ocean Abundance
M=772,734
U=73,048

Nontreaty Ocean Catch and Mortality (Comm Troll & Sport)
M=354,702
U=9,559

Ocean Natural Mortality 55,405
M=50,524
U=4,881

Run to Buoy 10 426,116
M=389,626
U=60,983

Buoy 10 Catch & Mortality 52,509
M=50,872
U=1,637

Run Exiting Buoy 10 398,100
M=338,754
U=59,346

Mainstem Sport 3,000
M=2,954
U=46

Aug. Commercial Catch 100
M=84
U=16

Mid September Commercial Catch 0
M=0
U=0

Late September Commercial Catch 45,000
M=37,951
U=7,049

Oct. Commercial Catch 55,000
M=47,700
U=7,300

Total Columbia Catch and Mortality 155,609
M=139,561
U=16,048

Total Ocean US v OR and Columbia Catch and Mortality 519,870
M=494,263
U=25,607

Escapement 270,507

[ 08-01-2003, 10:18 AM: Message edited by: cosmo ]

[Born to be Wild]

Cosmo,

Them are some interesting numbers.

It looks to me out of the estimated ocean abundance of 75,441 unmarked or possible wild fish 14,365 are being killed by the gill netters (20%). I presume that is the gill nett fishery (August-October commercial catch). If I remember correctly I have seen the nets in November and them selling coho at roadside stands in November? I didn’t see any figures for commercial catch in November though. Maybe my memory serves me wrong. I knew I shouldn’t have eaten those razor clams. :wink:

Another 9,559 unmarked coho caught by the Nontreaty Ocean Catch and Mortality (Comm Troll & Sport).

That’s 23,924 unmarked coho being killed by the what appears to be mostly commercial fishermen. Seems like a lot of presumed wild fish being allowed to be killed when they might become listed as endangered this year. Not threatened, but endangered. One third of the unhealthy wild run being harvested! Makes a lot of sense doesn’t it?

If they become listed as endangered I presume you won’t have to worry about them (commercials) fishing anymore. You probably won’t have to worry about Bouy 10 anymore either.

Hope it doesn’t effect the Oregon coast ocean coho fishery because some of those stocks will migrate south susceptible down here.

Don’t know if I drew the right conclusions because I’m not that familiar with the Columbia coho stocks.

Dan

[ 08-01-2003, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: DepoeBayDan ]

[FishaholicAZ]

I would have to say yes to that gary... For sure them are toubling numbers but as you and dan stated, I too dont know enough about these stocks. I do know however that 100,000 wild fish could easily be supported on the rivers on the washington side alone below bonneville... Not including all the stuff in the willamette basin and oregon side alone... maybe to much emphasis has been placed on the coastal stocks while the Columbia continues to suffer...

I dont know but if someone does, chime in... we would like to know the scoop...

Fish on.
Romeo

[monoman]

Take a good look at the numbers! The chinook numbers would really be an eye opener!

[garyk]

Thanks Cosmo for taking the time to present that information. I've not studied up on Columbia basin coho and now I need someone to tell me what it means?

What are we to make of a 34% harvest rate on what appears to be a depressed stock (only 75,000 produced in the whole Columbia Basin :depressed: ).

Is it an acceptable rate?

Is this level harvest significantly retarding this stock's recovery?