Neah Bay Reopens to Chinook
Each week we round-up the top fishing news from the Northwest and beyond. Do you have a news tip? E-mail us at news /at/ salmonuniversity.com.
Neah Bay Reopens
Anglers fishing in ocean waters off Neah Bay, Wash. will be allowed to keep one chinook daily beginning Friday, Aug. 21, state fishery managers announced last week. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) closed Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) to chinook retention earlier this summer when the catch of chinook salmon was expected to reach the harvest guideline for the area. But catch rates dropped in the final days, according to state officials.
Beginning Aug. 21, anglers fishing in Neah Bay can keep one chinook as part of the two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink salmon, but must release all wild coho and chum salmon. However, the section of Marine Area 4 that is east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line will remain closed to chinook retention.
More information on the ocean fishery, including catch guidelines and size limits, can be found in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
WDFW Seeks Nominations for Willapa Bay Advisory Group
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking nominations its advisory group for salmon management in Willapa Bay. The 12-member committee advises WDFW on policy issues associated with conservation and management of salmon stocks in the Willapa Bay watershed.
“We are looking for a diverse set of people who represent various interests and affiliations to serve on the advisory group,” said Steve Thiesfeld, regional fish program manager for WDFW.
According to the department, any group or individual can nominate a candidate to the advisory group and self-nominations are also accepted. Nominations must be submitted by mail to Mike Scharpf at raymond.scharpf /at/ dfw.wa.gov, and should include the nominee’s name, address, telephone number, affiliations (if applicable), references, and background.
CCA to Host Discussion on Pacific Cod in Woodinville
The Coastal Conservation Association Washington’s Sno-King chapter will be hosting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Mike Canino for a conversation about Pacific Cod in the Salish Sea on August 27 at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Cod populations are declining and are a species of concern for NOAA. Canino will discuss current management and conservation issues of this important species. The event will take place at the Sammamish Valley Grange Hall (14654 148th Ave NE in Woodinville) and is open to the public.
Feds to Provide $3 Million in Native Fish Preservation Grants
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced $3.17 million in grants to 18 organizations for the purpose of improving fish habitat and stem declines in native fish populations. Grantees include: the Fishers and Farmers Partnership, which will work to reduce the impact of various farming practices on aquatic habitats in the Red Cedar and St. Croix watersheds of Wisconsin; the Kenai Peninsula Fish Habitat Partnership, which will work with volunteers and partners to conserve salmon habitat in Alaska; and the Western Native Trout Initiative, which will restore habitat crucial to cutthroat trout, Gila trout and bull trout, all of which are imperiled species.
“The National Fish Habitat Partnership is making an enormous difference in efforts to recover our fish and aquatic resources,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe in a written statement.
Neah Bay sign photo courtesy J. Stephen Conn (CC BY-NC 2.0).
