WA Puget Sound Region Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries

U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of interactions that result in incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.

West Coast

Current Classification on the List of Fisheries

Category	II
Estimated Number of Participants	154
Target Species	Salmon (coho, pink, sockeye, chinook, and chum)
Applicable Take Reduction Plans	N/A
Observer Coverage	Observers were placed onboard vessels in a pilot program to monitor sea turtle and marine mammal interactions in 1993. In 1994, observer effort concentrated in the sockeye salmon fishery. Incidental takes of harbor porpoise, Dall’s porpoise, and harbor seals were documented. This fishery has not been observed since 1994. The overall take of marine mammals in this fishery is unlikely to have increased since the fishery was last observed, owing to reduction in the number of participating vessels and available fishing time since 1994.
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured	Dall’s porpoise, CA/OR/WA; Harbor porpoise, inland WA¹; Harbor seal, inland WA

^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.

*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).

¹ Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.

Basis for Current Classification

The total annual mortality and serious injury of harbor porpoise (inland WA stock) in this fishery is greater than 1% and less than 50% of the stock’s Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level.

Distribution

Puget Sound Region includes all inland waters south of U.S.-Canada border and eastward of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line (Treaty Indian fishing is excluded).

Gear Description

This fishery uses drift gillnet gear consisting of single web construction, not exceeding 300 fathoms (1,800 ft; 549 m) in length, attached at one end of the vessel. The minimum mesh size varies from 5-7 in (13-18 cm) depending on the target species. While the depths fished vary, fishermen strive to keep the net off of the bottom. The drift times vary depending on the fishing area, tidal condition, and target catch.

Management

This fishery is managed by the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife as a limited entry fishery with seasonal openings, area closures, and gear restrictions. Regulations governing incidental take of marine mammals do not apply to tribal members exercising treaty rights within this fishery.

Historical Information

Original Category (Year added to the LOF)	II (1996)
Original Number of Participants	1,044
Basis for Original Classification	Based on observer and logbook data. Logbooks indicated that takes of harbor seals in inland WA waters occurred each year. The fishery was observed in 1993 and 1994. Observer reports from that time documented incidental takes of harbor seals, harbor porpoise, and Dall’s porpoise. The total mortality and serious injury for harbor porpoise (based on observer data) was 15 animals/year), or 6% of PBR (PBR=270). The estimate included Treaty Indian fishing effort, which constituted about half of the estimated effort in Puget Sound. Since Treaty Indian fisheries are not covered by the LOF, only half of the documented takes were used to classify the fishery (7.5 animals/year, or 3% of PBR).
Past Names	N/A
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list)	N/A

Timeline of Changes

2020	Estimated number of participants was updated from 210 to 154.
2006	Added a superscript “1” after harbor porpoise (inland WA), indicating that takes of this stock are driving the classification of the fishery.
2004	Estimated number of participants was updated from 225 to 210.
2003	Estimated number of participants was updated from 725 to 225.
1999	Estimated number of participants was updated from 900 to 725.
1998	Estimated number of participants was updated from 1,044 to 900.