Introduction What is selective fishing? Selective Fishing Methods Fish Handling Suggestions Current WDFW Research Wanted: Have you seen a fish like this? Publications and Reports Contacts and Links WANTED Click here for more information on what to do if you catch a fish with a jaw tag	Current Selective Fishing Research Projects in Washington State
	Current Selective Fishing Projects Current Research Projects in Red. Click for more information. Past projects in black. Beginning in 2000, WDFW began evaluating tangle nets and a floating trap for commercial selective fishing. We have also evaluated a modified purse seine and brail as a way to capture control fish. During 2005 we are conducting research in the lower and upper Columbia River. Previously, our research has included the Puget Sound and Willapa Bay (on the Willapa and Naselle Rivers). Fisher removes salmon from net during selective fishing experiment. From the net, salmon are placed directly into an onboard freshwater holding tank. Biologists examine salmon for signs of injury, such as the net marks shown on this coho that was caught in a gill net. Questions that we are addressing include: Can we capture the target, or "desired", species using the live capture gears? How many "non-targeted" fish species or stock die as a result of selective fishing? Do salmon caught and released from the nets survive to complete their migration? Is it cost effective to use the selective gear versus traditional non-selective methods? Coho and Chinook salmon caught in the gill or tangle net are tagged with numbered steel jaw tags. After completing measurements on these fish, caught salmon are released back into the rivers/bays where they were caught. Subsequent jaw tag recoveries enable biologists to compare long- term survival of fish after having been caught in gill verses tangle nets.
	Current WDFW Research [ Columbia River Projects ] [ Puget Sound Project ] [ Willapa Bay Project ] [ Revival Box ]
	Columbia River Several hatcheries on the Columbia River produce Chinook and coho for harvest in the recreational and commercial fisheries. However, mixed in with these hatchery fish are many stocks that are listed under the Endangered Species Act and need protection from harvest. The economy of many communities benefit greatly from the sport and commercial fisheries. Therefore, to maintain fisheries in this area, it is highly desirable to develop a means to harvest hatchery fish with minimal impact to the wild stock. In May, 2001, WDFW and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) conducted a cooperative study to evaluate the effectiveness of the tangle net gear to catch Chinook salmon on the Columbia River. Local fishers from both states were employed in this test fishery, and they fished using tangle net and/or gill net gear. In May, 2001, on the Columbia River, salmon caught in selective fishing gears were marked with yellow, white and red jaw tags. If you catch one of these fish, please save the tag and contact your local WDFW office. Information from these tags will help researchers determine how well salmon survive after being caught in conventional gill net versus tangle nets. See the slide show for preliminary results
	Upper Columbia River During 2006 and 2007, the Colville Confederated Tribes and WDFW began to explore using selective fishing gears as a means to capture broodstock for the planned Chief Joseph Hatchery and to improve harvest opportunity in the Okanogan Basin. If you catch a tagged salmon in the upper Columbia River or in the Okanogan Basin, please contact Chris Waldbillig or click here for more information. Jaw tagged summer/fall Chinook. Beach seining for adult summer/fall Chinook in the Similkameen River Opercle tag examples Tangle net caught Chinook from the Okanogan River Coming soon, spring of 2006: Results of Development and testing of selective fishing gear as a broodstock collection method for Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Okanogan Basin: 2006 During 2005, in the upper Columbia River, we evaluated migration and holding patterns of Chinook salmon between the Wells and Chief Joseph dams as part of the planned Chief Joseph Hatchery plan. Coming soon, spring of 2006, Migration and movement patterns of adult Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) above Wells Dam: 2005
	A fisher lays out experimental fishing gear on the Columbia River. Lower Columbia River We began evaluating the use of steelhead excluder nets for the commercial spring Chinook fishery during 2005. The study was located in the lower Columbia River near the town of Cathlamet. To evaluate survival, we applied jaw tags to steelhead and spring Chinook.
	The exclusion net seen to the left with the tangle-net on the right. Evaluating the use of steelhead excluder nets, for the commercial spring Chinook fishery. The run appeared later than normal and as a result, few fish were captured. Because of this and to address year to year variation, we recommend the study be done for another year. Check back again in fall, 2007, for the report on this study. During 2004, in cooperation with the Colville Confederated Tribes, we did a pilot study to evaluate the usefulness of tangle nets and gill nets to collect fall Chinook salmon for broodstock and harvest opportunity in the Okanogan River. Tangle Nets and Gill Nets as a Live Capture Selective Method to Collect Fall Chinook Salmon Broodstock in the Okanogan River: 2004
	Puget Sound Project DFW experimental net fabricated to test effectiveness of fishing with a conventional gill net versus a tangle net. Click on photo for enlargement Chinook caught in tangle net- visible net marks around the mouth indicate the location of entanglement. Note the lack of net marks along the body. Project Objective: Evaluate the tangle net as a selective fishing gear and allow the live release of non-target species while maximizing harvest opportunities. Targeted Species: Chinook After approximately 30 nights of fishing, the efficiency and survival of salmon caught in the tangle net (selective gear) verses standard gill net will be evaluated. Timing: August - early September 2000 Tangle net compared with Conventional Gill Net - Gear used for experimental fishing Sampling Location Tangle Net Traditional Gill Net Length Mesh Size Length Mesh Size Budd Inlet 330 feet 3.5 inch 330 feet 6.5 inch Miller Bay 150 feet 3.5 inch 150 feet 6.5 inch
	Willapa Bay Project Testing fishing gear on Willapa Bay. Researchers investigate selective fishing methods that can be applied on commercial fishing boats. Located on the Naselle River, Naselle Hatchery produces coho, chum, and Chinook for harvest in the recreational and commercial fisheries within Willapa Bay. Wild stock of these species also inhabit the bay and their populations need protection from harvest. The economy of surrounding communities benefit greatly from the fisheries and their culture is significantly influenced by this activity. Therefore, to maintain a fisheries in this area, it is highly desirable to develop a means to harvest hatchery fish with minimal impact to the wild stock. Goals: Evaluate the impacts of selective commercial fishing gear on captured and released fish. Assist Naselle Hatchery to recapture enough adult hatchery Chinook to collect eggs for spawning. Acquire biological data about the returning wild and hatchery stocks of coho and Chinook on the Naselle River. Strategy: A floating live trap and a tangle net will be tested for their effectiveness to allow the live capture of coho salmon and thus provide the opportunity to remove hatchery fish and release wild fish. Drift Net Characteristics for Each Sampling Site: Naselle River Willapa River Net Type Net Length Mesh Size Net Type Net Length Mesh Size Tangle 900 feet 3.5 inch Tangle 550 feet 3.5 inch Floating live trap Coventional 550 feet 5.75 inch Project Timing:September - November 2000 Fishers set floating fish trap on Naselle River. On the Naselle River, salmon caught in WDFW project fishing gear were marked with jaw tags. If you catch one of these fish, please save the tag and contact your local WDFW office. Information from these tags will help researchers determine how well salmon survive after being caught in conventional gill versus tangle nets. Willapa Bay - Naselle River Willapa Bay has many healthy stocks of coho, making this an ideal place to evaluate selective fishing gears. In addition, there are presently fewer Chinook returning to the bay than desired for escapement and harvest, so selective gears that allow live release of Chinook may have a place in Willapa Bay. Our goal was to evaluate the survival of Chinook and coho released from the floating trap and the tangle net. On the Naselle River, we did not use a conventional gill net for comparison. Our observations can be found in our report "Selective Removal of Adult Hatchery Salmonids from Mixed Stock Fisheries" Willapa Bay - Willapa River Fishing in tandem on the Willapa: 3 fishers fished simultaneously in a study to evaluate effects of multiple recaptures on the survival of released coho and Chinook salmon. On the Willapa River, there is a strong run of hatchery coho, making this an ideal place to test new gears. In 2000, we used a conventional gill net (5.75" mesh size) and a tangle net (3.5" mesh size) to compare the catch efficiency of the gears, and the immediate survival of Chinook and coho caught in the gears. Based on encouraging results from last year, in fall, 2001, we are continuing our work on the Willapa River to further evaluate the tangle net for selective harvest. This year, we are contracting with several local fishers to simultaneously fish the gears so that we can evaluate the effects of multiple recaptures on the survival of released fish. We will also compare the post-release survival of fish released from the tangle net to that of fish released from the gill net. Look for results on this project in January 2002.
	Revival Box Setup of holding tank and recovery box onboard a gillnetter's boat. Fish too lethargic to be released back into the river are placed into a recovery box for rejuvenation. Salmon recuperating in a recovery box. To maximize oxygen flow to the fish's gills, its mouth is placed directly in front of the freshwater supply being pumped onboard. Fish recovery box. Photo courtesy of: OR Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Columbia R. Mgmt. Office Recovery box in action: a Chinook is revitalized using water pumped from the river Selective fishing research in British Columbia revealed that handling and release of the live captured salmon were the most important factors that contributed to their post-release survival. The use of a recovery box provides fresh flowing oxygen to the salmon, helping them revive quickly. In each of the selective fishing research projects, we use the recovery box for all salmon that appear lethargic or are bleeding. Fish are retained in this box until they become vigorous and actively seek to swim forward. Approximately 36" long and 16" high, this wooden box is just wide enough for the salmon with its head facing the fresh water flow, but narrow enough to prevent it from turning around. In a commercial selective fishery, each fishing boat will be equipped with a suitable recovery box. When a non-target fish is brought on board and requires some time to recover before release, it will be placed in the box until it is swimming vigorously. The recovery box provides the fish a protected place with extra water flow to recover from the stress of capture, and increases its chance of surviving after release.