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Quote from: HUNTINCOUPLE on February 07, 2020, 10:10:04 PMNets. Again, how are coastal fish avoiding the “predators”/nets and the PS fish are not?
Nets.
Coastal Tribal hatcheries get "more" fish back because they 1] Empty into the coast, and therefore have higher survival than Puget Sound streams2] Are federally funded (by taxpayers] 3] Have the largest smolt release programs on the westside, with the exception of the Cowlitz 4] Arent subject to "hatchery reform" 5] Arent subject to Endangered Species Act limitations.The Bogachiel hatchery gets back fish at as good or as high a return rate as any tribal program. If they weren't subject to the same hatchery reform regulations and could selectively breed locally adapted broodstock and release them at the same quantities as tribal programs, you'd see a dramatic increase in the both the quality and quantity of adult returns.The Sooes [Tribal) releases 165,000 smolts on average a year, which is slightly more than the Bogey/Calawah. And the fishery was totally closed this year to tribal and recreational fishing due to bad returns. Last time I looked the Bogey had returned 1106 steelhead this season, the highest return on the coast. Both facilities utilize "chambers" stock, for a more apples to apples comparison. Both are subject to intensive tribal fisheries- Cook Creek on the Quinault releases a "Chambers" derivative, at a higher annual number than Bogey. It sucked this year as well. The Salmon releases a local (Quinault) stock that is selectively bred for large size. While return rates seem better, they also plant a lot more into that system, usually 200,000 to 225,000.
Coastal Tribal hatcheries get "more" fish back because they 1] Empty into the coast, and therefore have higher survival than Puget Sound streams
Puget Sound problems have to do with predation by pinnipeds, avian mortality, and a lack of food during early entry into the sound/ocean. Telemetry studies show less than 20% (sometimes less than 10%) even make it out of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, after being released from PS rivers.You can add sockeye to the list, and pinks in most, with the exception of the Puyallup/Green. Puget Sound is seriously hurting.
BigCutty3, thank you for commenting on this thread..Fishing in the spring for wild fish on the PS rivers has been gone for a long time (aside from the Sauk/Skagit last year). Thought I could at least continue fishing on what's left of the hatchery program, but with returns continuing to decline to where we are, I'm afraid it's really over. Houston, we have a problem..
If it’s the PS itself, why are PS hatchery coho and chinook doing well? 2019 wasn’t good, but 2018 was. The hatchery steelhead returns are unreal bad. Clearly something here going on. Just don’t understand why it doesn’t effect coho and chinook the same.