Chris Conklin was the regional director. Came up from Habitat Division. I think the R6 Directors all suffer from the bad decisions made in Olympia. I liked Larry Phillips personally, but the decisions out of Olympia and Montesano?????? He had to eat a lot of crow. (You guys should try to keep up on current events LOL)

With the massive harvest of Grays Harbor Chinook by AK & BC I think this is relevant.




To save orcas, agencies should suspend salmon fishing

Michael W. Shurgot

For The Everett Herald

Several recent scientific reports on the perilous state of Northwest salmon and Southern Resident killer whales collectively indicate that severely curtailing regional fishing practices, including and especially in Alaska, is now absolutely necessary if our salmon and orcas are to survive.

Collectively, these reports are unequivocal.

First, a report issued on Jan. 22 by Fisheries and Oceans Canada: Canada documented that 30,000 chinook salmon had been destroyed as “bycatch” by hake and walleye pollock fishers during the 202223 ground fishing season. Sydney Dixon, a marine specialist with Canada’s Pacific Wild, estimated that the destroyed fish could have fed three or four mature orcas for an entire year.

This waste of this precious natural resource is unconscionable. It also emphasizes a truth that national and state regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, must face: The fishing industry is often wasteful and destructive, and the dangers of more salmon being dumped overboard as “bycatch” in Pacific Northwest and Alaska waters must be eliminated immediately.

Second, an intriguing map that was part of NOAA’s Jan. 20, 2022 report, “Ocean’s Influence on Salmon Plays Out in Varied Returns to Different Rivers and Regions,” visualizes scientists’ understanding of the migration patters taken by several fish stocks: Puget Sound, Lower Columbia, Snake River/ Oregon, and northern B.C. stocks. While these fish originate in vastly different regions, they share the waters and food of the Gulf of Alaska as they mature.

As the 2002 NOAA report details, nearly all Pacific Northwest salmon runs, regardless of their disparate origins, are declining rapidly. Further, in his research project, “Loss of Fecundity in Washington Chinook Population,” published March 1, 2024 at WildSteelheaders.org, Gary Marston writes that in the populations he and his team studied “there were significant reductions in body size across all age classes of female chinook between 2009 and 2017.” Marston concludes: ”[W] ith chinook returning at smaller sizes, and therefore producing fewer eggs and offspring, traditional fishery regimes could easily lead to over-exploiting the populations.”

Given the shared waters of the Gulf of Alaska, the alarming decrease in female chinook size and their reproductive potential and the already severely depleted fish stocks in most West Coast rivers, regulators must

now consider ending all commercial salmon fishing in Alaska, especially by trawlers.

Maps are guesses. Fish mingle. All salmon caught in Alaska’s waters are potential food for the starving orcas of the Salish Sea, and the fish that do return are smaller and less productive than they have been historically. Commercial fishing should also be severely curtailed in Washington waters, especially the Strait of Juan de Fuca where many commercial fishers operate. Further, the state Fish and Wildlife departments does not “allocate” Puget Sound fish for killer whales, only for fishers. This must change: Whales first, then fishers.

Finally, new research published April 5 in Communications Earth & Environment by Wild Fish Conservancy projects “a rapid population collapse [of Southern Resident killer whales] in roughly 40 years’ time from maintenance of the status-quo.” The report urges transitioning from ocean-based fishing to river-based locations, a change that would “immediately increase critical wild chinook salmon for (Salish Sea orcas).”

The authors urge swift action. “In a declining population the longer the lag time between knowledge and mitigation, the more draconian the recovery actions can become, with a larger social cost and a higher risk that harm reduction actions may not work.”

As Joe Gaydos, science director of the SeaDoc Society, recently commented, “We are talking about making some big changes in the next couple of generations of killer whales, or we are out of time.”

Michael W. Shurgot is a retired professor of humanities at South Puget Sound Community College. He lives in Seattle.

This says it all. But it's been said many times on this board. We need a total change in management and new policies. I have some optimism if the right guy gets elected to governor. We'll see.

4/25/2024


When PP posters talk about food for Orcas, the Salmon fish of choice is not Chum, Coho, Sockeye or Chinook BUT SPRING CHINOOK.

I don't know the ocean tracking of Spring Chinook but if Orcas are a high priority then there needs to be curtailments of any ocean, major rivers, NT netters and less priority of sport seasons.

Tough times call for better protection of Spring Chinook.

While Chinook may be preferred by SRKWs they certainly eat the other species when Chinook aren't around. Back about 20-25 years ago they cleaned out the Dyes Inlet runs of chum in December. To claim Chinook are their only food is a ploy to get Chinook specific actions taken like removal of the Snake River dams.

The fisheries that need essentially closure until definite recovery occurs are the marine mixed stock fisheries, including those that take the salmon's food resources and have salmon as (wasted) bycatch. Once the salmon have passed the whales, protection is not needed. That means that in-river fisheries, constrained by escarpment goals, can proceed. If the whales start moving upriver to eat, this may need reconsideration.

Well done C'man!

Nailed it carcass. Ive witnessed on multiple accounts while fishing the ps, that whatever is running at the time, is the pesca-de-jour for srkw's. Especially when the chum are in. Picky eating and killer whales dont jive.

Part of the problem is we damn well know how many fish we need to have returning to PS (entering the Straits) for the SRKWs. WDFW has (I know they had) a data base of adult salmon of all species and timings entering PS from the late 60s/early 70s. It includes hatchery and wild so you know the fish numbers. Pretty sure WDG had steelhead numbers but it was more likely catch as I am not sure they really did escapement numbers until Boldt. But, that is still a long-term data set. You can convert that to biomass, as you have the catch data, and even the timing so you know day to day what adult biomass was available. You can add to that the Fraser pink and sockeye, which goes back even further. I don't know how good the DFO data is for Fraser and southern BC adults, but they must have something.

That can be compared to the known numbers of whales. The problem is finding the huevos to ensure that many adult salmon return.

Morning guys I am posting this because we lost the guy you knew as Softbite. John was the math / model guy that helped everyone get the Grays Harbor Policy. Good bye John you were one of the good guys.


C. John Campbell Jr. gave up his seven-year fight with prostate cancer on February 7, 2024, at age 81. He passed away at his Central Park home surrounded by his wife and children.

John was born to Clayton and Mary Campbell in Orofino, Idaho on October 13, 1942. At the time of John’s birth, his father was on active duty with the Flying Tigers in China. When Clayton returned, the family lived at several army bases until settling in Boise, Idaho in 1945. John was the oldest of five children. He attended Boise schools graduating from Boise High School and Boise Junior College. While growing up his favorite hobbies were hunting, fishing, and camping with the family. He also enjoyed his Boy Scout troop and made several lifelong friends. He went on to become a Scout Master.

John went to the University of Idaho and earned BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering. At that time, he met his future wife, Pauline Handeland, who was attending Washington State University. They were married in 1968 in Tacoma, Washington and enjoyed a 55-year relationship. After graduating from college, they moved to California for eight years while John worked for Shell Oil Company as a Reservoir Engineer, mainly in the Ventura oil field.

When the oil industry consolidated in Houston, John and Pauline, along with their new daughter Tonja decided to return to the Northwest in 1974. John secured a job with Weyerhaeuser Company as a Process Engineer at the Cosmopolis Pulp Mill. His son Clayton soon arrived after the move to Aberdeen, Washington. John worked at Weyerhaeuser the rest of his career retiring as the Reliability Manager when the mill closed in 2006.

John considered Grays Harbor to be heaven on earth with its hunting, fishing and outdoor activities. Salmon fishing and gardening being his favorite retirement hobbies. John was actively involved with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), an advocacy organization working to protect native salmon and steelhead. John also participated in the yearly WDFW North of Falcon process regarding fisheries management. John believed in healthy eating and cultivated a garden with veggies, berries and fruit trees. His raspberries, applesauce and blackberry jam were favorites. He also enjoyed growing flowers, including dahlias, irises and orchids.

John was a man of integrity and had a strong work ethic. He was a rational, scientifically minded person who liked to share his knowledge and ideas, especially with his grandchildren.

John believed in contributing to the local community. He established the Pauline and John Campbell Engineering Scholarship Fund through the Grays Harbor Community Foundation for college students pursuing degrees in the field of engineering.

John was a devoted husband, caring father and a loving grandfather. He will be greatly missed.

John was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Douglas and Gregory. John is survived by his wife (Pauline Campbell), two children Tonja (Ian Dickson) Campbell of Winthrop, Washington and Clayton (Jennifer) Campbell of Salt Lake City, Utah, three grandchildren and two sisters, Marjory (James) Clements of Hope Idaho and Beth (Kelly) Carothers of Torrance, California.

Per John’s request, there will be no formal end of life service. In honor of his memory, please consider a donation to the CCA at https://ccawashington.org/donate/.

Here's to the good guys! F.I.P softbite.

Nice guy, RIP John.

Some of us have been exchanging thoughts on fishing or lack of it this past winter. It is a shame as other than an event in November the Chehalis was rarely not fishable. Oh few small events but very few brown outs of any duration. The river was the best one could hope for most of the winter and spring if one likes to fish winter Steelhead. It would be nice if WDFW and the QIN could get past this thing were Rec fishers’ ability to do C&R is not recognized because the QIN net fishery is not selective. Frankly with the current Commission and Director I do not see change coming anytime soon. I could be wrong and I hope I am but I doubt it.

As to the natural things around the river it was different this year. Always before during the out-migration window for salmon juveniles always birds preying on them for a meal. This year not so much in fact the Cormorants were almost never around same with Merganser ducks. No idea if this was good or a bad thing but most certainly different.

So as the summer goes on the weather forecast is well below average temperatures into August and a bit wet. This good for fish but sort of sucks for humble humans.

A La Niña Watch is in place for the equatorial waters of the Pacific Ocean by the 2024 summer months. La Niña is when sea surface temperatures dip below average. It’s the cooler waters that help bring increased moisture and decrease temperatures for the Pacific Northwest during the winter months. The National Weather Service is 55% confident in El Niño transitions to La Niña by June through August 2024. If that prediction comes true, then the Pacific Northwest could be in for a potentially wet and cooler than average 2024-2025 winter season.

So it looks like the El Nino dry drought conditions are history for 2024. That is good so we don’t have another phony shut down in the fall river fishery for low flows. Adult salmon are seldom affected by dry fall conditions in the Chehalis Basin as they simply wait for rain and slowly move upstream. Makes for good fishing depending on where you fish inland. What I always worry about is the juvenile rearing areas in dry years as those guys are very vulnerable. So wet summer fall great for fish not so much for us.

Not being able to fish the creek is pathetic even if it did become little Blue Creek near the end.

Oh the memories.

The sad part about working on only a few streams is all the pressure will move there. Duh. Like close PS and be suprised when they move to the OP.

Got some questions on the river conditions. It is fine right now but river flow forecast has it at near record flows for date and time the 6th at Porter. The Satsop is forecast for new record flows date and time the 5th. No idea if it will get muddy but it rained like hell last night and is supposed to continue for two more days. Then 10 days or so of good weather with a hot spell in the middle of it. Overall the forecast is below average temperatures but not really wet just cooler. Likely not nice here on the coast as the on shore push will likely go right to the Black Hills.

Checked NOAA 24 hour 2nd & 3rd 12 to 12 rain total and 3.93 inches Wynoochee Dam with surronding areas all above or around 3.6. Upper Chehalis came in around inch to 1.5 total.

Well this should be interesting with "net the hell out of evertthing" Cunningham heading recent decisions by WWDF on the Chehalis Basin.



Fish and Wildlife Commission to hold a special Fish Committee virtual meeting on June 14

OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a special Fish Committee virtual meeting on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Commissioners will review policy on Grays Harbor salmon management and hear updates on Columbia River American shad and the resident native trout harvest management policy. Also on the agenda are future meeting planning and general discussion.

The virtual webinar meeting will be held via Zoom and TVW links or by phone with access available on the Commission webpage.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.

This is a kinda heads up for you all as I watched a boat try to fly yesterday. The river has a lot of new deadheads around. Some floating some anchored but they show at different times in the tides. Thing is at some point they are just barely under water and wacking one at 30 mph is not a good thing for sure! Nobody hurt as far as I could tell but the boat certainly took a hard hit and damn that motor bounced.

Heads up tomorrow is the Commission Fish Committee meeting and the Grays Harbor Policy is on the agenda.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission/meetings/2024/14jun2024-agenda-special-fish-committee


Here is the staff presentation and they really want to get rid of the non treaty net restrictions. This also has the timeline for getting a new policy.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/presentation-grays-harbor-salmon-mgmt-pol-61424.pdf

Anyone watch the Commission Fish Committee on the Grays Harbor Policy meeting via ZOOM ? Probably technically the worse one I think I have seen. So what did I get? From staff the process is being driven by Olympia. They are determined to get more time for NT nets. It was Addicks I think (paraphrasing now) that did not like the defined directions in the GH Policy but wants general guidelines and let the professionals do the seasons unrestricted. My response to that is and wow our salmon stocks are thriving statewide under WDFWs professionals. Like 1980s all over again.

The Commission seems to be fixated on doing something like the Willapa Policy is what I got from them. Thoughts anyone?

Past time to defund Stevens Creek and Satsop hatcheries and fish management division. They don't work for the people who pay their salaries and keep the doors open and lights on at the agency offices.