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.
Current Classification on the List of Fisheries
Category |
II |
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Estimated Number of Participants |
136 |
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Target Species |
Salmon (coho, pink, sockeye, chinook, and chum) |
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Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
N/A |
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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. |
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Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
Dall’s porpoise, CA/OR/WA; Harbor porpoise, inland WA1; Harbor seal, inland WA
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^ 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
The species targeted include sockeye, Chinook, pink, coho, and chum salmon within the Puget Sound, located along the northwestern coast of Washington. The Puget Sound Region of the salmon fishery includes all inland waters south of the U.S.-Canada border and eastward of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line (Treaty Indian fishing is excluded). The fishery usually starts around mid-July and extends until early December.
Gear Description
Two types of drift gillnets are used; a larger drift gillnet and a smaller skiff gillnet. The larger drift gillnet is suspended in the water column by buoys tied every 50 fathoms to the float (cork) line. The maximum length is 300 fathoms (1800 feet), and the mesh size from 5 inches (12.7 cm) to 7 inches (17.78 cm). With exception of certain areas, the maximum net depth is 90 meshes. Two red buoys are attached within 5 feet of each end of the net with the name and gillnet license number of the fisherman. The skiff gillnet differs in that it is a maximum of 100 fathoms (600 feet) in length and it is retrieved by hand only. Recovery boxes are required on a salmon drift gillnet vessel.
Management
The fishery requires a limited entry permit, which is transferable. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), NMFS, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council jointly manage the fishery. The fishery is managed through season openings, mesh size limits, net soak time limits (45 minutes), and limits regarding the amount of time fishing effort is allowed each day or night within various areas. A fish-friendly workshop has to be attended in order to fish in certain areas, and use of seabird strips are required. The take of certain salmon species is prohibited in specific areas as well; and if they are caught, they have to be released immediately. Every fisherman is required to report lost netting to WDFW. Emergency regulation and in-season changes can occur based on stock allocations and conservation objectives.
Historical Information
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Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
II (1996) |
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Original Number of Participants |
1,044 |
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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). |
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Past Names |
N/A |
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Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
N/A |
Timeline of Changes
| 2022 |
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| 2020 |
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2006 |
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2004 |
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2003 |
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1999 |
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1998 |
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