Management Strategies for Columbia River Recreational and Commercial

Management Strategies for Columbia River Recreational and Commercial Fisheries-2013 and Beyond Oregon and Washington Agency Analysis and Recommendations for Workgroup November 15, 2012

Background • Premise: Recreational and commercial fisheries economically vital to OR and WA • Objective: Optimize economic value within conservation framework • Key Elements/Principles: • Prioritize recreational fisheries in mainstem; commercial in offchannel • Develop selective commercial gear and techniques; phase out non-selective gill nets in the mainstem • Enhance off-channel commercial fisheries • Secure conservation benefits (e. g. , reducing hatchery fish on spawning grounds) • Provide a transition period for full implementation • Avoid significant economic loss during transition; ensure overall economic gains long-term

Additional Clarification/Guidance • Complete policy development in 2012 • Revisit issue in future and adjust course if key assumptions prove wrong • Key elements are a package and should be considered as a whole • Flexibility to extend transition slightly if necessary • Flexibility to moderate 70: 30 shift (summer and fall) if necessary to lessen commercial economic loss and reasonable recreational objectives can be met • Provide conservation benefits by selective mainstem commercial harvest of lower river hatchery coho and Chinook

Washington Recommendations (10 -18 -12) Most elements consistent w/Joint-Agency Report Summer Chinook: No transition; end targeted commercial fisheries in 2013 Sturgeon: If no uptick in 2012, end targeted commercial fishery and allow only catch-and-release recreational fishery Upriver Bright Chinook: Retain mainstem large-mesh gillnet option above Lewis River in the fall season only Seines: Begin pilot mainstem commercial fishery 2013 Target mark-selective coho fishery in October Spring Chinook: Tangle-net only beginning in 2013

WG Directions From Last Meeting Incorporate WA recommendations into Joint- Agency Report and reconcile differences Analyze scenario to achieve 0 -5% overall impact to commercial fisheries during transition (5 -10% now) Clarify adaptive management strategy and identify elements of a commercial buy-back program Identify some elements of commercial advisor recommendations to incorporate into Joint-Agency Report Ask HSRG for review of conservation benefits and risks

Materials Provided • Modified Joint Agency Report w/appendices • Incorporated WA Workgroup member recommendations, and reconciled differences into single path forward • Analyzed scenario to achieve no more than 0 -5% overall economic harm to commercial fishery for transition • Incorporated several elements from Commercial Advisor recommendations (10/10/12) • Preliminary draft conservation analysis from HSRG • Tangle net regulations

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12) Transition (2013 -2016+) • Allocations: • 70: 30 sport: commercial for spring Chinook and sockeye • 60: 40 initially (2013 -14) for summer Chinook, then 70: 30 • 65: 35 for tule fall Chinook • Upriver Bright: depends on run size and meeting sport obj. (model shows ~40: 60 for large runs meets sport objectives and provides commercial access) • No substantive change for coho • Off-Channel Enhancements: 2013+ • • • 1 M spring Chinook (750 k OR, 250 k WA): 83% increase 920 k coho (720 k OR, 200 k WA): 24% increase 500 k select area bright fall Chinook (OR): 33% increase

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12) Transition (2013 -2016+) • “Reasonable” fall Chinook sport fishery objectives: • Buoy 10 through Labor Day • Tongue Pt to Warrior Rock through mid September (MSF? ) • Warrior Rock to Bonneville full fishery • Commercial characteristics: • Mainstem opportunity spring, summer and fall • Tangle and gill nets allowed in mainstem; plus alt gear if approved • 25% more adult Chs in off-channel immediately; ~25% more adult coho and 33% more SABs mid way through transition • Substantive upriver bright Chf opportunity in mainstem • New opportunity for hatchery tule and coho if alt gear approved

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12) Transition (2013 -2016+) • Recreational Fishery Impacts: • 45 k angler trip (15%) increase • Commercial Fishery Impacts: • $200 k to $1. 1 M (5 -30%) increase • Includes alt gear harvest of hatchery tules and coho • Includes full harvest of available Upriver Bright fall Chinook

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12) Long Term (2017+) • Allocations: • • • 80: 20 sport: commercial for spring Chinook and sockeye 80: 20 for summer Chinook; if <90 k run no commercial < 80: 20 for tule fall Chinook (model shows 65: 35 will meet sport obj. and provide commercial access to hatchery fish) < 80: 20 for Upriver Bright; depends on run-size and meeting sport obj. (model shows ~40: 60 for large run sizes will meet sport objectives and provide commercial access) No substantive change for coho • Off-Channel Enhancements: • • • Up to 1. 25 M spring Chinook (1 M OR, 250 k WA): ~100% increase Up to 4. 7 M coho (4. 5 M OR, 200 k WA): ~100% increase 750 k select area bright fall Chinook (OR): ~50% increase

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12) Long Term (2017+) • “Reasonable” fall Chinook sport fishery objectives: • Buoy 10 through Labor Day • Tongue Pt to Warrior Rock through mid September (MSF? ) • Warrior Rock to Bonneville full fishery • Commercial characteristics: • Tangle nets and other selective gear in mainstem • Infrequent opportunity for Chs in mainstem • Off-channel: ~100% more adult Chs; 50% more SAB and coho • Substantive upriver bright Chf opportunity in mainstem • New substantive opportunity for hatchery tule, coho and upriver bright fall Chinook in mainstem

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12) Long Term (2017+) • Recreational Fishery Impacts: • 67 k angler trip (23%) increase • Commercial Fishery Impacts: • 2017 -20: $550 k (15%) increase • 2021+: $840 k (23%) increase • Includes alt gear harvest of hatchery tules, coho and upriver bright fall Chinook in mainstem • Includes full harvest of available Upriver Bright fall Chinook • Includes increased harvest of off-channel salmon

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12) Sturgeon (2013+) • 10% additional conservation buffer set aside from harvestable surplus • Remaining harvestable surplus allocated 80: 20 sport: commercial • If abundance does not increase, allow only non- retention fisheries until decline is reversed

Joint-Agency Report/Appendices (11/9/12) Additional Measures for Recreational Fishery (Based on Commercial Advisor input) • Barbless hooks • Rubber landing nets • Recovery boxes in guide boats (>20 ft length) • Restricted sport fishing w/in and adjacent to off-channel areas until economic benefits verified • 5 -fish seasonal limit for CR spring Chinook • CR Endorsement for OR to help fund plan • Create limited-entry guide program for CR • Require guide logbooks

Conservation Impacts Continues conservation progression Small escapement increase for some wild runs (e. g. , spring Chinook) Increased harvest rate on hatchery salmon Reduced hatchery fish on spawning grounds, particularly tules, coho and spring Chinook (Sandy/Willamette) Increased protection of white sturgeon Monitoring and adaptive management important

Adaptive Management • Commissions track implementation and results; initial review end of 2014, comprehensive review end of transition • If initial assumptions prove wrong (e. g. , >0 -5% negative overall economic impact during transition), determine causes and make adjustments to correct course to stay on track • Significantly lower than expected returns to offchannel sites • Insufficient space in off-channel sites to accommodate the commercial fleet • Significantly lower than expected mainstem commercial harvest using selective gears

Adaptive Management (cont’d): • Circumstances that delay or preclude implementation • Significantly lower than expected economic return to commercial fishers • Conflicts with terms of the US v Oregon Management Agreement • Failure to meet conservation needs

Next Steps WG recommendations to WA and OR commissions Commissions consider policy adoption / OARs at December meetings Budget needs incorporated into GRB and considered by Legislature in 2013+ New authorities (e. g. , gear, ESA coverage) acquired as needed

Questions?

Buoy 10 Tongue Point – Rocky Point Astoria. Megler Bridge Warrior Rock – Lewis R Columbia River 20

Select Area Sites Washington Deep River Cowlitz River Youngs Bay Blind Tongue Slough / Knappa Point / South Slough Channel Oregon Multnomah Channel