Sturgeon catch reduction in 2012

[ICEMAN]

Sorry Cohoho, looks like Washington and Oregon have agreed to further cuts in the sturgeon catch for 2012.

From wildlife;


January 13, 2012
Contact:  WDFW Region 5 Office, (360) 696-6211

States agree to reduce sturgeon catch
by 38% on the lower Columbia River

PORTLAND - For the third straight year, fish and wildlife directors from Washington and Oregon have agreed to reduce the catch of white sturgeon on the lower Columbia River, where the species has declined in abundance in recent years.

Under the new agreement, the total allowable harvest of white sturgeon below Bonneville Dam will be reduced from 22.5 percent of the "legal-size" fish to 16 percent in 2012.

The new harvest rate will hold the combined catch by sport and commercial fisheries to 9,600 sturgeon measuring 38 to 54 inches long. Last year's guideline for those waters was 15,640 fish, although only 14,488 were actually harvested.

This year's agreement will reduce the sturgeon harvest in the lower Columbia River by 38 percent, following a 30 percent reduction in 2011 and a 40 percent reduction the previous year.

The abundance of legal-size sturgeon has declined nearly 50 percent since 2007, according to surveys by both states. Factors often cited for the decline include increased predation by sea lions and a drop in the abundance of smelt and lamprey, which contribute to sturgeons' diet.

Concerned by these trends, the fish and wildlife commissions charged with setting policy for each state called for significant catch reductions in 2012 during separate meetings last week. The responsibility for negotiating a common catch rate fell to the fish and wildlife directors of each state.

"This was not a difficult negotiation," said Phil Anderson, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "Both directors came into this discussion with serious concerns about the status of the resource and a commitment to make a significant reduction in the 2012 harvest level. I also heard stakeholders' concerns about the decline in the sturgeon resource and their support for taking a more conservative approach in our harvest management." 

Roy Elicker, director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, agreed, noting that the discussion quickly turned to how to best manage the 2012 fishery under the reduced harvest level.

"It's clear that recent trends in sturgeon populations warrant a more precautionary approach," Elicker said. "For 2012, the plan is to maintain the season and catch-allocation structure that has been in place for several years, but with shorter fishing periods."

Under the 16 percent harvest rate, the portion of the catch available to recreational fisheries will be allocated as follows: 4,160 fish in the estuary, 2,080 above Wauna and between 1,768 and 2,022 in the Willamette River.

The directors agreed to some flexibility in the portion of the catch assigned to the Willamette River. This flexibility may be necessary to meet Oregon's goal of four sturgeon retention days on the Willamette, Elicker said.

Projections indicate that 65,000 white sturgeon between 38 and 54 inches will be present below Bonneville Dam this year.

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon will meet Jan. 26 in Portland to set this year's fishing seasons for sturgeon and spring chinook salmon on the lower Columbia River. Later in the year, the states plan to begin a public process involving fishermen to fully review current sturgeon management strategies on the Columbia and Willamette rivers prior to the 2013 fishing season. 

[Ripper]

I wonder what the tribal allocation will be. Up where I live in Snohomish county the tribal fisherman can keep 10 a peice with no size restrictions. They are talking about doing away with recreational fishing for them all together. Not trying to stir the pot yet again, thats just the facts.

[cohoho]

Can't imagine being a season here soon at all.   

[singleshot12]

I think this is just the beginning to eventually phase out the "keeper sturgeon" fishery all together.  It's no surprise with the increased fishing popularity of the species the last few years. Just hope more can be done about the native commercials, poaching, and seals(in that order), that has a more drastic effect on the sturgeon population and I'm sure the officials know that, but as usual it's always the sportsman that looses out on another great fishery.

[Wenatcheejay]

"Department of No Fish and No Game."

Sturgeon Harvest

Annual Harvest Reduction Rate for 2010 40%

Annual Harvest Reduction Rate for 2011 30%

Annual Harvest Reduction Rate for 2012 38%

Total reduction in harvest                        108%


Total annual rate of increases to a useless Washington State fishing license, "Priceless."

[cohoho]

I think this is just the beginning to eventually phase out the "keeper sturgeon" fishery all together.  It's no surprise with the increased fishing popularity of the species the last few years. Just hope more can be done about the native commercials, poaching, and seals(in that order), that has a more drastic effect on the sturgeon population and I'm sure the officials know that, but as usual it's always the sportsman that looses out on another great fishery.

If it goes to a C&R, that would be fine by me, but will that ensure Commerical and Natives are also not alllowed to harvest?  Can't stop by-catch, even though Sturgeon are a hearty fish, they got to be killing a few here and there, adding up.  Besides why do the fish stay in the river, their food source has been almost depleted.  Lampreys, almost non-exsistant; Smelt, no looking good; and now Shad declining..  What else can they eat except below the dam awaiting the turbines to grind some chum up..

[Curly]

What needs to happen is elimination of at least 3,000 sealions.........  
 

[Wenatcheejay]

Eliminating sealions?
+1 here!

But like ESA and other laws that prevent common sense, "gosh golly we'd like to do it but we just can't because we have pretend reasons that have nothing to do with management....."  We can not do what we should do because we will not do it, therefore all we can do is manage you because you don't have the will to do anything about it.   

And Natives will do as they please, Phil Anderson can go  they don't give  about what kooky regulations he comes out with. They are lucky. 

I don't know what it will do to commercial, it will probably go to a Native Company. At least, that is what I would do. 

[Ripper]

The proposal on the table is for eliminating all recreational harvest, and turning over management of the species to the tribes. There used to be a few Tulalips with comercial licenses to take 10 fish any size per day. Now the rest of the tribes want in also. I was told by wdfw that about 20 to 30 other tribal members put in for licenses to fish in Snohomish and Skagit counties.  Can you imagine what that would do to the species if they take 200-300 sturgeon a day out of our local waters? There wont be any left to fish for after a short while. 200 a day for a whole year would be 73000 fish. Even if they only take half that the fishery would be dead. I havent heard yet if they want to eliminate us from fishing all together or go to catch and release. Reguardless with that many fish being taken there wont be any for catch and release.

[singleshot12]

Oh yea they'll be wiped out in no time.. it's frickin depressing

[Wenatcheejay]

It's all Bush's fault. 

[Ripper]

  Thanks for pointing that out Jay.