NW tribes drive effort to save primitive fish

[jackelope]

By JEFF BARNARD
Associated Press

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - As long as American Indians have lived in the Pacific Northwest, they have looked to a jawless, eel-like fish for food.

Tribes once harvested the lamprey from rivers throughout the Columbia Basin, which stretches from the Oregon coast up into Canada. But with dozens of hydroelectric dams in the way, the fish has followed the path of the buffalo _ from a food staple of a people to a curiosity.

Today, the tribes in the Northwest have just one place to go for them: a 40-foot waterfall on the Willamette River flanked by an abandoned paper mill and a power plant, and located about a dozen miles upstream from a Superfund site.

Unlike salmon, which have drawn billions of dollars in government funds to modify dams and restore habitat, the lamprey have gone largely ignored. It's the tribes that still eat them that are driving the effort to bring them back.

The greatest threat the fish now face is the dams, which "will probably lead to their demise," said Aaron Jackson, who heads the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation efforts to restore lamprey.

"That's really sad," he said, of a fish that has survived hundreds of millions of years while other animals, such as dinosaurs, didn't. "That something this old would just wink out in my lifetime _ that's unfathomable to me."

The lamprey, whose English name comes from the Latin for "rock sucker," uses its mouth to glom onto rocks and other fish.

Several years after hatching, they swim downstream to the ocean, where they suck onto the sides of whales, sea lions and fish, feeding as parasites. At full maturity, they swim back upriver to spawn and die.

Three days a week in July, Indians drive hundreds of miles from their reservations, wade through the green water and, with hands covered in white cotton gloves, pull the writhing gray fish from rocks and stuff them into burlap sacks to take home.

There, tribal elders will grill the oily, pungent fish, or cut them into links and roast them like hotdogs over open fires.

The tribes of the Northwest have had a special connection with the lamprey for thousands of years.

The seven gill slits on the side of its head marked them as a food designated for the region's tribes by the creator, corresponding to the seven drummers and seven songs of longhouse ceremonies, Jackson said.

But as more dams were built, the lamprey declined.

Biologists have estimated that 1 million were still crossing Bonneville Dam on the Columbia east of Portland in the 1970s, before accurate counts were taken. That dropped to 200,000 by 2003, and stands at about 20,000 now, said Bob Heinith, hydroelectric program coordinator for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

A petition to list them as an endangered species was turned down for lack of information.

The full gamut of reasons for the declining numbers is not well-understood, but the dams are clearly a big one. About half the fish that pass one dam fail to get over the next, until only a dozen make it to the Idaho border, Heinith said.

Fish ladders and screens designed for salmon are tough on lamprey. Pollution is, too. Studies on eels in Europe link high levels of industrial toxins, such as dioxin from paper mills, mercury from coal power plants, and pesticides, with low levels of reproductive success.

Based on an agreement with the tribes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working on ways to get lamprey over the dams without making it tougher for salmon, which can be tricky, said David Clugston, a biologist for the corps.

Adult lamprey, which grow to about 2 feet long and are as big around as a fat hotdog, have trouble with the fast water and sharp corners of fish ladders designed for salmon.

The young ones, the size of a nightcrawler, get stuck on screens designed to keep young salmon out of turbines.

So far there have been baby steps. Special lamprey ramps have been installed at Bonneville Dam, and fish ladders have been modified at two more.

The tribes are experimenting with capturing adult lamprey at dams and releasing them in tributaries, hoping they will re-establish populations of young lamprey that emit the pheromones the adults follow to spawning beds.

They are also talking to experts in Finland about building lamprey hatcheries.

With no dams between it and the ocean, Willamette Falls has become the last best place to harvest.

Tribes from the Umatilla, Warm Springs and Grande Ronde reservations in Oregon, the Yakama reservation in Washington and the Nez Perce reservation in Idaho drive there every July. The time is dependent on when Portland General Electric reduces the flow of water over the falls, diverting it into the dam's electricity-generating turbines and in the process making it easier to harvest the fish.

Tribal members leaned off the bows of boats, balanced on slippery rocks or dove into pools to grab the wriggling lamprey. Tribal elders who enjoy the strong fishy taste roast the oil-dripping flesh over small cook-fires amid reservation housing projects.

Chayenne Wahneta, 18, laughed with friends harvesting the fish, but has no intention of actually eating one. "I never tried them, and I don't want to," said Wahneta. "They look ugly."

Nez Perce elder Elmer Crow recalled harvesting lamprey from the Columbia as a child, and the satisfaction he felt helping to feed his family. "They are so full of nutrients and grease that the grease drops off into the fire," he said.

"When they're good and golden brown and nice, you pull 'em off and eat 'em. We had the first so-called American hotdog."

Crow, who is vice chairman of the Nez Perce Tribe's fish and wildlife committee, said restoring lamprey is a vital part of restoring salmon. "Life is a complete circle. Remember that," he said. "If you take something out, a few others go with it."


(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

[PlateauNDN]

Thanks Jackelope, it's nice to know that there are more than Natives reading these reports published regarding Natives.  The eels is a big part of our diet and not many from this younger generation enjoy them.  My elders treat them as if they have just received a bag of money when they get some and they are cherished for their healthy food source.  They are treated just as salmon are when they are prepared long-term, canned, dried, smoked you name it they are prepared just as good.

Great post!

[wildmanoutdoors]

Neat write up. Especially this statement. "Life is a complete circle. Remember that,"

Lol.

[jackelope]

Back east, namely the great lakes trib's, lampreys were a pest. A nuisance fish. We would catch them and throw them in the bushes.
 

[sebek556]

odd question but.. if they are trying to get them on the endangered species list then why are they still harvesting them?

[CedarPants]

Aren't they thought to have infested the Great Lakes after manmade canals and such were introduced?  I.E. they had help getting there.

They are native fish in this region, here long before we were

[PlateauNDN]

odd question but.. if they are trying to get them on the endangered species list then why are they still harvesting them?

They are a tiny little bit more abundant than this report has it listed as and the season for this is very strict and tougher than the laid back one on salmon, at least for the Yakama's.

[woodywsu]

odd question but.. if they are trying to get them on the endangered species list then why are they still harvesting them?

Harvest is allowed at Willamette Falls where runs are healthy. There are no dams causing conflict to lamprey making it up to the falls to spawn. The concern is upper columbia and snaker river tributaries where runs are very minimal. I'm guessing that genetics are different similiar to salmon.

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

I had a wonderful job hiking in the woods with an electro fisher and a GPS many years ago. I used the electro fisher to check streams for lamprey and sculpin. These streams were being re-classified as fish bearing streams so as to create a buffer when logging the forest around them. I was amazed how abundant the smaller lamprey were, never did find anything larger than about 8 inches though.

[jackelope]

Aren't they thought to have infested the Great Lakes after manmade canals and such were introduced?  I.E. they had help getting there.

They are native fish in this region, here long before we were

Yeah thats right...My point in saying what I was saying is that I never realized they were held in such high regard. I always looked at them as a pest(back east).

[sebek556]

odd question but.. if they are trying to get them on the endangered species list then why are they still harvesting them?

Harvest is allowed at Willamette Falls where runs are healthy. There are no dams causing conflict to lamprey making it up to the falls to spawn. The concern is upper columbia and snaker river tributaries where runs are very minimal. I'm guessing that genetics are different similiar to salmon.

thanks my confusion..

[get one leakin]

odd question but.. if they are trying to get them on the endangered species list then why are they still harvesting them?

They are a tiny little bit more abundant than this report has it listed as and the season for this is very strict and tougher than the laid back one on salmon, at least for the Yakama's.

Im with seebkk, I thought that they were disappearing in this guys lifetime.  If they are so edangered then wouldnt you want to quit harvesting them.  Maybe just eat a few of those endagered wild steelhead I have to throw back or shoot another couple elk at the feeding station this winter....

[Coastal_native]

odd question but.. if they are trying to get them on the endangered species list then why are they still harvesting them?

They are a tiny little bit more abundant than this report has it listed as and the season for this is very strict and tougher than the laid back one on salmon, at least for the Yakama's.

Im with seebkk, I thought that they were disappearing in this guys lifetime.  If they are so edangered then wouldnt you want to quit harvesting them.  Maybe just eat a few of those endagered wild steelhead I have to throw back or shoot another couple elk at the feeding station this winter....

Perfect...give this guy a hunt WA t-shirt and make him a moderator.  After you read that article and thought about what you wanted to post...was it your hate for Native Americans that inspired you to pull out a negative response? or was it your vast knowledge of all the factors that contribute to resource management and sustainability? 

....5th worst example of invoking the first amendment since I've been on this site...thanks.

[PlateauNDN]

Or

odd question but.. if they are trying to get them on the endangered species list then why are they still harvesting them?

They are a tiny little bit more abundant than this report has it listed as and the season for this is very strict and tougher than the laid back one on salmon, at least for the Yakama's.

Im with seebkk, I thought that they were disappearing in this guys lifetime.  If they are so edangered then wouldnt you want to quit harvesting them.  Maybe just eat a few of those endagered wild steelhead I have to throw back or shoot another couple elk at the feeding station this winter....

Thanks for the comment and your frustrations are understood but before you go labeling me as if I'm one of those indians that abuses his privileges then you are wrong in your little assumption.  You want to be frustrated with those indians then so be it but, don't accuse me of not having any ethics in regards to hunting and fishing.  I've spoken against the abuse of rights here in public and here on this site.  If you have questions regarding tribal issues ask away and I'd be glad to assist you with locating an answer.

[CedarPants]

Im with seebkk, I thought that they were disappearing in this guys lifetime.  If they are so endangered then wouldnt you want to quit harvesting them.  Maybe just eat a few of those endagered wild steelhead I have to throw back or shoot another couple elk at the feeding station this winter....

Wow.  I can't decide if I'm angered at your ignorance or embarrassed by it.

[bobcat]

odd question but.. if they are trying to get them on the endangered species list then why are they still harvesting them?

Harvest is allowed at Willamette Falls where runs are healthy. There are no dams causing conflict to lamprey making it up to the falls to spawn. The concern is upper columbia and snaker river tributaries where runs are very minimal. I'm guessing that genetics are different similiar to salmon.

"get one leakin",  maybe you didn't read the above post by woodywsu?   

If you don't understand, then you may need to take a biology class.

[Coastal_native]

Perfect...give this guy a hunt WA t-shirt and make him a moderator.  After you read that article and thought about what you wanted to post...was it your hate for Native Americans that inspired you to pull out a negative response? or was it your vast knowledge of all the factors that contribute to resource management and sustainability? 

....5th worst example of invoking the first amendment since I've been on this site...thanks.

...6th worst example of invoking the first amendment since I've been on this site...the subsequent responses to "get one leakin" were much better.  Way to clean it up gentlemen.

[sebek556]

woah kinda sad the remarks start with he is with me..

[get one leakin]

Actually I dont hate anybody.  I never labeled anybody.  I am not alone with my frustration with some native hunters and fisherman that want something protected and then dont respect the same measures that they request from everyone else.  Maybe the lampreys on the willamette are different population than the upstream population but if one is caught above the dams is it released?  I have not witnessed that but I have witnessed our large breeding Bucks taken on private, non tribal land long after any season.  Im not saying that all natives abuse their privleges, but some do.  I get just as upset when non native hunters shoot game after season.  Id say that if your opinion deserves to be heard (costal native) than before you call my comments ignorant look at your own.

[Coastal_native]

I'm shameful of my response to your initial post.  I pointed that out above.  I've seen a lot more "hate inspired" posts than yours.  What stood out to me on this thread is that it seems impossible to come up with a negative response to the article from the OP. 

Here's an example of an opinion "It seems contradictory to continue to authorize a fishery on a species that you're worried might be at risk of extinction".  If you would have left it at that, It would have been perfect.

This has nothing to do with sensitivity, too many people these days claim "free speech" as an excuse to be disrespectful...(especially that jack ass Bill Mahr, he spits on the flag everytime he opens his mouth)

[sebek556]

back to the orginal topic here these thing are ugly ugly ugly, but how do they taste?

[bobcat]

The tribal hunting issue (and fishing) is definitely a big one. It's about the most frustrating issue there was in this state, for me, until the wolf issue came along. I place most of the blame on our government for simply allowing it to happen, and not seeming to care whatsoever. But in this case, it sounds like they are catching lampreys which are not affected by the dams and therefore this particular run is not in trouble.

[get one leakin]

Good point costal, that was the point I was making, I just get caught up and a little upset at hunters that abuse the system, native or not.  I do have one question and maybe it has been addressed already on this site.  Are the Natives allowed to hunt wolves in Washington or in other states?  That would at least be some help to keep them in check.

[Coastal_native]

That'll be a big issue. Right now, because of the federal nexus between the US and Treaty tribes, we are required to comply with all apllicable federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act.  There is a lot of case law, secretarial orders, and legislation that address consultation expectations between the feds and Tribes.  We constantly run into issues where federal laws conflict with our treaties.  A good example would be the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

My opinion would be that some tribes will assert their right to "actively" manage wolf populations...being that we tend to think of ourselves as being "a part of nature" as opposed to being "apart from nature".  It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[PlateauNDN]

Good point costal, that was the point I was making, I just get caught up and a little upset at hunters that abuse the system, native or not.  I do have one question and maybe it has been addressed already on this site.  Are the Natives allowed to hunt wolves in Washington or in other states?  That would at least be some help to keep them in check.

I know I'm 9 hours late but some of us that have to get up early with kids have an early bed time.  Since Coastal gave a good legal answer I'm just going to say at least for us, the Yakama's we don't hunt wolves and if I see somebody with a wolf you bet your A$$ I'm going to gather the intel and report them ASAP.  The wolf is a revered animal here to those that still follow the teachings of their elders and it is one to be respected.

If the Tribe ever does manage the wolf population that I know is up there near Mt. Adams and they along with the State and Feds admit it then they would more than likely let our Wildlife Managers handle the control and management of the packs.

And Sebek, I wasn't placing either one of you in the same boat just responding to the 1st post by "get one leakin" and his post contained your post so you were kind of a victim of crossfire, sorry.

If you have any other questions then ask away.

[ouchfoss]

When I was a little kid I used to find them all the time in the creek by my house plus at all the creeks that dump into Lake Quinault. Weird thing is, they can live out of water for a long time. When the creek would dry up every summer by my house, you could go to all the deep spots in the creek and lift logs and rocks and find them still alive days after the creek went dry.
I had no idea anyone would ever eat them! Makes me kinda curious how they taste. What is law for harvesting them?

[Sumpnneedskillin]

When I was a little kid I used to find them all the time in the creek by my house plus at all the creeks that dump into Lake Quinault. Weird thing is, they can live out of water for a long time. When the creek would dry up every summer by my house, you could go to all the deep spots in the creek and lift logs and rocks and find them still alive days after the creek went dry.
I had no idea anyone would ever eat them! Makes me kinda curious how they taste. What is law for harvesting them?

Pg 20 of the 2011/2012 Sportfishing Rules
You May Not:  Take, fish for, or possess PACIFIC LAMPREY, WESTERN BROOK LAMPREY, OR RIVER LAMPREY, or use any species of LAMPREY for bait.

[ouchfoss]

I guess that answers my question!    

[singleshot12]

That's great that NW tribes are making an effort to save the primitive eel and when populations reach a harvestable level hopefully the Lamprey will be used for sustenance only among the tribe and not put on the market for profit!

[Special T]

Is this the fish? And i mean the leach looking parasite that is hangin on the other big fish... If we are trying to save that thing we got our priorities screwed up...