The objectives for the 2010 feasibility study were to:



-- test deployment and operation of three different gear types (Purse Seine, Beach Seine and Trap Net);

-- directly estimate short-term (24-48 hours) species-specific mortality rates resulting from capture for each gear type, and

-- directly estimate and compare species-specific catch per unit effort for each gear type.



Researchers failed to accomplish the short-term mortality assessment goal because of the intervention of otters, sea lions and seals. Some of the captured fish were to be kept in in-stream net pens for 24 to 48 hours to see how they fared after their netting. But the pens were regularly plundered by the predators.



“We really don’t have enough data to make an estimate” of short-term mortality, Kinne said.