Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3707 March 16-30, 2018 | Page 29

SALTWATER VOL.37 • ISS. 07 T March 16 - 30, 2018 29 Mixed News for Sacramento and Klamath Salmon Reported at CDFW Meeting here is no doubt there will be ocean and inland recreational fishing seasons targeting Sacramento and Klamath River fall Chinook salmon this season, but the exact length and scope of those seasons will be determined in upcoming meetings at the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and California Fish and Game Commission. Recreational and commercial anglers attending the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Salmon Information Meeting in Santa Rosa on March 1 received mixed news regarding the status of Sacramento River fall Chinook and Klamath River fall Chinook stocks, the drivers of the California and Southern Oregon ocean salmon fisheries. The adult returns of both stocks were well below minimum escapement goals in 2017, while the projected abundance for both stocks is modest compared to historic averages. The data released on March 1 will help to craft the ocean and in river salmon seasons developed by the federal and state governments this year. The 2017 adult spawning escapement of Sacramento River fall run Chinooks was only 44,574 adults in 2017, reported Vanessa Gusman, CDFW environmental scientist.. This is well below the conservation goal range of 122,000 to 180,000 fish. The fish included 27,039 hatchery fish and 17,535 natural origin fish. This is the second lowest return ever. In 2009, when the fishing industry was shut down, the return was 40,873. The 2017 Klamath Basin fall Chinook run was the 5th lowest in 39 years of records and 43 percent of the 39-year average. All recreational ocean and in river fishing for Klamath and Trinity River Fall Chinooks was closed last year, due to the projected low return. The adult Chinook returns to the basin were 173 percent of the projected forecast — 18,410 versus 31,838 post. “The adult fall Chinook natural escapement conservation threshold of 40,700 was not managed for or met this season,” said Wade Sinnen, CDFW environmental scientist. “The geometric mean of natural escapement for the past three years is 19,358, below the minimum stocks size threshold of 30,525. The stock is now considered to be in an “overfished” state, meaning that a Conservation Plan must be developed to recover the fishery. On the positive side, the state and federal fishery scientists reported an increase in the number of jacks (two-year- old Chinook) that returned to spawn in 2017 in both the Sacramento and Klamath- Trinity river systems. “Higher jack returns, as seen in 2017, can indicate the potential for increased abundance of adult (three years old or older) Chinook for 2018 fisheries,” said Harry Morse, CDFW information officer. The 2017 Sacramento River jack counts were well above normal. A total of 24,375 jacks returned to the Upper Sacramento, Feather River and American River Basins in 201. Likewise, the number of 2-year-old grilse (also called jacks and jills) in the Klamath is 21,903, above the long term average and a precursor for age three abundance, said Sinnen. The jack counts are employed to model the ocean abundance forecasts for the year. Forecasts by Michael O’Farrell of NOAA Fisheries presented at the meeting suggest there are 229,400 Sacramento River fall Chinook adults and 359,200 Klamath River fall Chinook adults in the ocean this year. The Sacramento River fall Chinook forecast is comparable to last year (down slightly) but there are greater numbers of Klamath River fall Chinook projected to be swimming in the ocean this year. Fall Chinook from these runs typically comprise the majority of salmon taken in California’s ocean and inland fisheries. “The Sacramento Index forecast is nearly identical to the 2017 forecast,” said Dr. O’Farrell of the National Marine Fisheries Servic e. “2018 management must target an escapement of at least 122,000, a 46.8 percent exploitation rate.” If the 2017 regulations were in place now, it would provide for a preliminary escapement prediction of 134,900. “This stock is likely to constrain 2018 fisheries,” said O’Farrell. In addition to being subject to the Sacramento Index, fishing for Sacramento River stocks is also constrained by the status winter run Chinook salmon, a species listed under both the federal and state Endangered Species Acts. O’Farrell said there is a new “control rule” for 2018. The abundance forecast is 1,594 and the maximum allowable age 3 impact is 14.4%. With the 2017 regulations in place, there would be a preliminary prediction of 12.6%. As in previous years, this is likely to constrain 2018 fisheries south of Point WHAT’S HOT SALTWATER by Dan Bacher Arena on the Mendocino Coast. O’Farrell stated. The Klamath ocean abundance is an estimated 333,049 age 3 fish, 28,415 age 4 and 767 age 5. “The 2018 potential spawner abundance forecast is 59,733,” said O’Farrell. “The Wade Sinnen, CDFW environmental scientist, speaks at the salmon fishery 2018 season information meeting in Santa Rosa on March 1. must target at Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff. escapement of at least 40,700.” This could constrain 2018 fisheries south circumstances, salmon fishing this year is of Cape Falcon, Oregon. going to be curtailed again.” Why the low numbers in 2017? Morse “It is not the fault of the fishermen,” said the effects of the recent drought Pool emphasized. “The problems are the are still impacting California’s salmon low survival of the juveniles in the rivers populations. “Outbound juvenile Chinook and in the Delta. There are solutions and suffered unusually high mortality because the State and Federal Governments need of low flows and high water temperatures to step up and fix them while it is sti