Why Don't We Open Additional Chinook Selective Fisheries in 2004? The Department has received numerous suggestions and requests that it expand selective fisheries opportunities for marked, hatchery chinook in a number of areas. We are very supportive of these ideas but also have certain key constraints that preclude us from proposing additional chinook selective fisheries in 2004. We have tried to summarize those constraints below. In developing our mass marking and selective fisheries programs for coho and chinook, WDFW has had to address questions about how the programs might affect current management applications of the coded-wire tag (CWT) system. As many are aware, the CWT provides the current foundation for estimating fishery exploitation rates for chinook and coho stocks in coastwide fisheries. As a result, the CWT has become key in implementing international agreements under the U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty as well as obligations under the Endangered Species Act. In both cases conservation objectives require that we measure fishery impacts on key stocks. While selective fisheries can be an excellent tool to minimize impacts on wild stocks and target fisheries on hatchery fish, they also can complicate the analyses necessary to utilize CWT data. So as proponents for selective fisheries, the Department has had the primary responsibility to evaluate these complications and develop approaches that ensure that the CWT system will not be significantly impaired. These evaluations and assurances have been much simpler for coho than chinook because of their life history differences (e.g., coho maturing primarily as three year olds and chinook maturing at age 3, 4 and 5). But in 2003 WDFW was able to reach a major milestone in this work and implement the first selective fishery in marine waters (July, Strait of Juan de Fuca) for marked chinook salmon with the intent to evaluate it as a two-year pilot. At the same time other managers expressed significant concerns with this fishery regarding the issues noted above, which the Department had to address. In order to help meet those concerns, WDFW agreed that it would not expand chinook selective fisheries for 2004 fisheries (5/1/04-4/30/05) in order for us to consider results of the Strait's selective chinook fishery evaluation. While there could be some exception to this constraint, by agreement, such exceptions would only be possible for freshwater areas where CWT issues are greatly diminished. During the next several months, the Department intends to create a draft list of additional selective chinook fishery ideas that it might consider proposing for the 2005 season (e.g., 5/1/05-4/30/06) or beyond. Advanced planning is required by agreements under the Pacific Salmon Treaty process so that CWT issues can be appropriately evaluated. So the specific ideas that we receive through our 2004 North of Falcon planning process will be very helpful in deciding what times and areas might be most logical for considered expansion of selective fishery opportunities in the future. More information about this future planning will be available by this summer. The Department certainly supports the concept of expanded selective chinook fishing to better meet our conservation and fishing opportunity goals. Unfortunately, it has taken considerable time to address the implementation challenges described above, particularly in marine waters. These fisheries will continue to be a very high priority for the Department. Related Links WDFW 2004 North of Falcon