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1994 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program |
| Council document 94-55 | |
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8.3 Develop Alternative Harvest Opportunities
One of the major challenges harvest managers face is that there are mostly mixed-stock fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River, as well as in the ocean. This means fishers harvest a mixture of hatchery-produced and naturally produced stocks from many different areas of origin. Hatchery-produced fish generally can withstand a higher exploitation rate than most naturally produced fish. However, fishers in mixed-stock fisheries are generally unable to harvest specific stocks selectively. Thus, naturally produced stocks and weaker hatchery stocks are often harvested at rates appropriate for stronger stocks. The result is over-fishing of weaker stocks.
To allow harvest of stronger stocks, some incidental take of weaker stocks is inevitable in most fisheries. Fishery managers use the best available data to estimate incidental harvest under different fishing regimes. Fishing seasons and quotas are then set on the basis of acceptable impacts on weaker stocks.
To speed the rate at which weak stocks rebuild and to provide opportunities to harvest stronger stocks over the long term in the Columbia River, it is essential that development and evaluation of live-catch fishing technologies and known-stock fisheries be started immediately. Opportunities for selective harvest in ocean fisheries are more limited and will depend on better knowledge of the distribution of various stocks in the ocean (see Section 8.4).
8.3A Live-Catch Technology and Known-Stock Fisheries
Bonneville and Appropriate Federal Agencies
8.3A.1 To the extent practical, the Council supports enhancement activities geared toward stocks that contribute to adequately managed fisheries. This policy is intended to protect ratepayers from investing in major capital construction facilities that contribute to fisheries where there is harvest at levels exceeding those in this program or where the release of fish would aggravate mixed-stock fishery problems.
8.3A.2 Fund the fishery managers and fishers to develop and implement plans to evaluate the feasibility of live-catch fishing technologies and known-stock fisheries by 1995. Include a detailed analysis of incentives to encourage known-stock fisheries, including direct subsidies for known-stock fisheries in lieu of -- not in addition to -- mixed-stock harvest in the mainstem Columbia River. Consult with the Council prior to implementation and annually on progress.
8.3A.3 Share the cost on a 50/50 or other mutually agreed basis for the needed research and model development to improve accuracy and precision.
8.3B Selective Harvest Technologies
This measure develops and evaluates capture technologies to increase harvest of abundant fish stocks and minimize effects on depleted salmon stocks. The gear should minimize mortality of fish that are to be released.
Bonneville
8.3B.1 Fund pilot projects to demonstrate the feasibility of various methods to selectively harvest abundant stocks while conserving weak stocks. This effort should provide for participation by harvesters in the development of new methods and address such questions as public acceptance of the proposed technology, number and location of possible fishing sites, legislative changes needed to apply the proposed technology and the means of selecting harvesters for participation in the fishery.
8.3C Terminal Harvest Fisheries
This measure calls for identification and development of terminal fishing opportunities to harvest abundant stocks while minimizing the incidental harvest of weak stocks.
Bonneville
8.3C.1 Fund a study to evaluate potential terminal fishery sites and opportunities. This study should include: general requirements for developing those sites (e.g., construction of acclimation/release facilities for hatchery smolts so that adult salmon would return to the area for harvest); the potential number of harvesters that might be accommodated; type of gear to be used; and other relevant information needed to determine the feasibility and magnitude of the program, including experimental release of fish.
8.3C.2 Devise and carry out a joint strategy to create terminal fisheries operations able to meet all operating costs and repay a portion of capital invested from assessments on increases in fishers? harvest income. The strategy should address: means of accumulating the capital investment necessary to upgrade and expand operations in Youngs Bay and elsewhere; identification of further site opportunities for terminal fisheries and testing feasibility; performance of the underlying economic analysis (costs, projected returns, level of boat assessment required, other income sources) needed to support federal and state investments; and benefits realized in the form of reduced harvest pressure on weak Columbia River salmon stocks. Report to the Council by December 31, 1995, on actions taken and investment capital committed to at least one terminal fishery project of significance.