An excellent overview of the state of the salmon in Puget Sound

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Al Bergstein

Chris Dunagan is one of the best reporters in the Pacific NW covering the Salish Sea. Here’s a great overview of the state of the salmon.

Are we making progress on salmon recovery?

In recent decades, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to restore habitat for Puget Sound salmon. In this article, we look at how scientists are gauging their progress. Are environmental conditions improving or getting worse? The answer may depend on where you look and who you ask. Chris Dunagan reports. (Salish Sea Currents)

https://www.eopugetsound.org/magazine/is/salmon-recovery

Filed under: Around the Sound, Endangered Species, fisheries, Puget Sound, Salmon | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Washington state loses big legal battle over salmon culverts – AP

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Al Bergstein

As if it’s not bad enough with the lack of money to deal with the public schools, now this. I think a change to a state income tax is a way forward to properly make the wealthiest of our high tech workers, etc. pay their fair share. Property taxes are a joke. You can’t get to funding of all our needs by property taxes and you end up hurting fixed income elderly the worse.

Washington state lost a major legal battle Friday that could force it to spend nearly $2 billion to restore salmon habitat by removing barriers blocking fish migration. A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year affirmed a lower court’s 2013 ruling ordering the state to fix or replace hundreds of culverts — large pipes that allow streams to pass beneath roads but block migrating salmon. Phuong Le reports. (Associated Press)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-state-loses-big-legal-battle-over-salmon-culverts

Filed under: Around the Sound, Puget Sound | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Some salmon forecasts like Puget Sound coho show an upswing from last year – Seattle Times

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Al Bergstein

A small bit of good news.

State Fish and Wildlife unveiled salmon forecasts to a packed house in Olympia on Tuesday, and as usual there are some highlights mixed in with lowlights as the first steps are taken in this lengthy process of setting fishing seasons. The good news is a Puget Sound forecast of 559,045 coho (267,745 wild and 291,301 hatchery) is a drastic increase from last year’s dismal forecast of 255,403 (87,359 and 168,585) that led to one of the most contentious disagreements between state and tribal fishery managers on how to carve out fisheries. Mark Yuasa reports. (Seattle Times)

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/some-salmon-forecasts-like-puget-sound-coho-show-an-upswing-from-last-year/

See also: Far fewer pink salmon are expected to return to the South Sound this year http://www.thenewstribune.com/outdoors/hunting-fishing/article135528528.html Jeffrey Mayor reports. (News Tribune Tacoma)

Filed under: Around the Salish Sea, Puget Sound, Salmon | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Some salmon forecasts like Puget Sound coho show an upswing from last year – Seattle Times

Jimmy Come Lately Salmon Report

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Al Bergstein

Also in from Al (and Cheri) Latham. For those of you not aware of Jimmycomelately creek, it is in Blyn near the Tribal Center for the Jamestown S’Klallam. The Tribe has done a great job of restoring the run at the creek, and maintains a fish trap to count the returning salmon each fall.

Dear Jimmycomelately Creek friends:

It does not look like we will be setting any records at for summer chum returns at Jimmycomelately Creek this year but this is a strong run.  The daily counts have been fluctuating  between 40 and 100 per day with no real change in stream flow – which remains very low.  The count now stands at 2,342 with three or so weeks to go.  Next week I will be able to tell you just how far upstream some of them went. We’ve had quite a few visitors this season and there is still time for more!

jcl-salmon-reportsalmon-on-jcl-sept-2016jimmy-come-lately-sept-2016

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Jimmy Come Lately Salmon Report

Chum Salmon Runs normal on Snow & Salmon Creeks

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Al Bergstein

Just in from Al Latham. While not as big as some years, it seems statistically pretty normal

Salmon Creek chums are up to 1,667 and 262 Snow Creek chum have been passed upstream of the WDFW station.  It’s important to note that the Snow Creek graph doesn’t include all of the fish that spawn in the ¾ mile downstream between the trap and the bay.

salmon-creek-2016-numbers

Snow Creek chum are negotiating the new channel in the estuary just fine and there are some redds in that lowest stretch.

snow-creek-chum-chart

The upper reaches of  Salmon Creek chum territory are quieter than last year but the fish are still coming in at 60 -130 per day.

Here is a male that came through on Tuesday – my friend Renee Karlovich took the photo.

chum-salmon-on-salmon-creek

Filed under: Puget Sound, Salmon | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Chum Salmon Runs normal on Snow & Salmon Creeks

‘Grim’ Fraser River salmon runs even worse than forecast -Canadian Press

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Al Bergstein

The neglect of the Fraser runs under the Harper Regime was legendary. Then global warming. Now this.

This year’s Fraser River sockeye return, already forecast to be below average, has turned out to be even worse. One First Nation leader described the return as going from poor to grim. The forecast run this year — which has traditionally been one of the low-run years in the four-year cycle of sockeye — was 2.27 million. That was already below the average of the past half century of 3.9 million. The latest estimates from test fisheries and through sonar counts show that only about half of the expected sockeye had returned by last Friday: 400,000 to 500,000 of the anticipated 840,000, according to the Pacific Salmon Commission, a Canadian-American agency that helps manage fisheries. The peak of the remaining summer sockeye run is expected about mid-month, but there is little expectation that the numbers will change, said Pacific Salmon Commission executive secretary John Field. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

'Grim' Fraser River salmon runs even worse than forecast

See also: Federal government expected to act on 2012 report examining Fraser River sockeye http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/federal-government-expected-to-act-on-2012-report-examining-fraser-river-sockeye (Canadian Press)

Filed under: Around the Salish Sea, Puget Sound, Salmon | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on ‘Grim’ Fraser River salmon runs even worse than forecast -Canadian Press

Long outlawed, salmon ranching might make a comeback – Kitsap Sun

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Al Bergstein

Another bad idea makes a comeback. Can’t we just kill this idea before it becomes another fiasco? Just to the north of us here, in British Columbia, net pens are creating huge problems because of waste and disease. There is no good reason to bring back private hatcheries and net pens, even if they are labeled with a ‘fun’ label like, salmon ranching. It’s just a PR trick.

OLYMPIA — A long-prohibited method of salmon farming is gaining support among state fisheries managers.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is dusting off the idea of allowing private companies to raise and release salmon for commercial harvests. Known as salmon ranching, the practice boomed in the Northwest during the 1970s. It went bust in Oregon and was outlawed in Washington but continues to thrive in Alaska. Norway and Japan are world leaders in the business, producing huge quantities of ranched salmon, lobster, cod and other species.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local/long-outlawed-could-salmon-ranching-make-a-comeback-35d08362-88ce-37a9-e053-0100007fc778-383881381.html

Filed under: Puget Sound, Salmon | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Long outlawed, salmon ranching might make a comeback – Kitsap Sun

Fishermen protest tribal fishery as Puget Sound closure begins – Seattle Times

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Al Bergstein

Big news…the fishing “wars” continue as the salmon continue to decline.  For those new to Puget Sound, look up ‘The Boldt Decision’ to better understand this complex issue.

With the closure of Puget Sound salmon fisheries this week and the possibility of no summer fishing season, about 20 fishermen gathered Wednesday morning in La Conner to protest the start of a tribal fishery. Nontribal fishermen at the protest said if they can’t fish, the tribes shouldn’t either…. Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Chair Lorraine Loomis said Swinomish Indian Tribal Community fishermen are gathering chinook salmon this week in preparation for annual ceremonies, including the tribe’s Blessing of the Fleet. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) See also: Sport fishermen protest ‘broken’ program as tribe gillnets chinook http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/sport-fishermen-angry-over-tribal-gillnetting-salmon-catch/ Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

http://www.goskagit.com/news/fishermen-protest-tribal-fishery-as-puget-sound-closure-begins/article_e546bd2a-65d9-5b69-a0ac-6972940447d2.html

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Fishermen protest tribal fishery as Puget Sound closure begins – Seattle Times

Judge: Salmon recovery requires big dam changes – Seattle Times

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Al Bergstein

An important ruling.
A federal judge has called for a new approach to Columbia and Snake River dam operations to preserve salmon and steelhead, with all options on the table for consideration, including dam removal on the Lower Snake River. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon in Oregon on Wednesday invalidated the U.S. government’s 2014 Columbia Basin biological opinion, under which federal agencies operate the Columbia River hydropower system. It’s the fifth time a biological opinion written by the agencies permitting operation of the dams has been struck down by the courts. In his sweeping, 149-page ruling, Simon sounded about out of patience, quoting rulings over two decades by his predecessors denouncing a system that “cries out for a major overhaul,” and urging consideration of breaching one or more of the four dams on the Lower Snake River.  Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/lower-snake-river-dam-removal-back-on-table/

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , | Comments Off on Judge: Salmon recovery requires big dam changes – Seattle Times

‘Warm blob’ keeps possible record sockeye run away from U.S. waters – Bellingham Herald

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Al Bergstein

The story of how this year’s great hot weather has affected the salmon runs. 

In a development that has left local fishermen scratching their heads, it appears an unusually warm section of ocean water is helping send nearly the entire sockeye salmon run into Canadian fishing waters this season. According to data from the Pacific Salmon Commission through Tuesday, Aug. 19, in recent weeks about 99 percent of the sockeye salmon has gone through the Johnstone Strait around the northern part of Vancouver Island into Canadian waters. That’s made a big difference in who is catching the fish: Nearly 2.9 million sockeye salmon have been caught in Canadian waters, while the U.S. fishermen had caught around 98,000 through Aug. 19. Dave Gallagher reports. (Bellingham Herald)

 

 http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/08/24/3815002_warm-blob-keeps-possible-record.html

Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Bellingham Herald. 

Filed under: Salmon | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Warm blob’ keeps possible record sockeye run away from U.S. waters – Bellingham Herald

Obama Administration Finalizes Stronger Stream Buffers to Protect Imperiled Salmon from Pesticides

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Al Bergstein

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/08/13/18759976.php

The Environmental Protection Agency today finalized an agreement to restore no-spray buffer zones around waterways to protect imperiled salmon and steelhead from five toxic pesticides.

A coalition of conservation organizations, advocates for alternatives to pesticides, and fishing groups cheered the victory. These groups brought a lawsuit to demand reasonable fish protections from the insecticides, some of which are derived from nerve toxins developed during World War II….

The buffers apply to salmon habitat throughout California, Oregon, and Washington to prohibit aerial spraying of broad-spectrum pesticides diazinon, chlorpyrifos, malathion, carbaryl, and methomyl within 300 feet of salmon habitat and prohibit ground-based applications within 60 feet.

 

The agreement provides detailed notice to state regulators, pesticide applicators, farmers, and the public about the required no-spray buffer zones. These buffers will remain in place until the National Marine Fisheries Service completes analyses of the impacts of these five pesticides on the fish. Then, the EPA must implement permanent protections grounded in the Fisheries Service’s findings. (Indymedia)

Filed under: Salmon | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Obama Administration Finalizes Stronger Stream Buffers to Protect Imperiled Salmon from Pesticides

Tests show no signs of ISA virus in Washington’s salmon–WDFW

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Al Bergstein

If these tests are accurate  (BC has consistently manipulated their tests results), then this is good news. However, with the disease found just north of us, it requires ongoing testing and vigilance if we want to protect our wild stocks (and the investments of hundreds of millions of dollars over the decades we have spent as taxpayers). It is good to see that there are two labs involved in the testing, and that the Tribes are also in the loop on the process. The NW Indian Fisheries Commission is certainly a credible independent voice for wild salmon.

Recent tests of salmon from Washington’s waters show no signs of a fish virus that can be deadly to farm-raised Atlantic salmon, state, tribal and federal resource managers announced today. Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus (ISAV) was not detected in tissue samples taken from more than 900 wild and hatchery-produced Pacific chinook, coho, sockeye, chum and steelhead, as well as farm-raised Atlantic salmon. ISAV is not harmful to people. Specific strains of the virus have caused a deadly disease in farm-raised Atlantic salmon. Outbreaks with significant losses have occurred in farmed Atlantic salmon in Maine, Eastern Canada, Chile and several European countries. ISAV has not been documented in farmed, wild or hatchery salmon in Washington.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/may3013a/

Filed under: Aquaculture, Salmon | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Mystery compound found to kill Coho salmon–Kitsap Sun

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Al Bergstein

In the last year there’s been a growing body of evidence that seems to show that runoff from our roads may be a significant and possibly primary cause of loss of salmon in our creeks and rivers. Chris Dunagan reports on efforts to identify this substance in Kitsap County.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/jan/21/mystery-compound-found-to-kill-coho-salmon/#axzz2Ij8S6P5D

Meanwhile, researchers in Seattle have decided to simply look at rain gardens to filter the poisons out. With great success. The following video shows the problem, and wat may be the ultimate solution. The next question that needs to get asked is, “What happens with the rain garden? Does it become a toxic waste site?

“Drained: Urban Stormwater Pollution”

https://vimeo.com/51603152

Filed under: Around the Sound, Salmon | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Mystery compound found to kill Coho salmon–Kitsap Sun

Peninsula counties get $2.3 million for salmon recovery–PDN

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Salmon recovery efforts along the Elwha, Pyhst, Hoko, Crooked Creek, Dungeness River, Sands Creek, Clallam River, Calawah River, and Big River all were given money from the State Salmon Recovery Board. Projects in the Dosewallips, Duckabush,Discovery Bay, Big Quilcene, Snow Creek, Christmas (?)  Creek in Jefferson County were also funded.

The whole story is at:

http://peninsuladailynews.com/article/20121217/NEWS/312179995/peninsula-counties-get-23-million-for-salmon-recovery

Support Local Journalism. Subscribe to the PDN.

Filed under: Government, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Salmon grants will help Hood Canal estuaries – Kitsap Sun

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Al Bergstein

More than $550,000 has been set aside to purchase and conserve lands within the estuaries of the Big Quilcene, Dosewallips and Duckabush rivers, all in Hood Canal. The Hood Canal grants were endorsed by the state’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board, which approved $19.2 million for salmon projects throughout the state. Chris Dunagan reports. http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/dec/10/salmon-grants-will-help-hood-canal-estuaries/

Filed under: Salmon | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Salmon grants will help Hood Canal estuaries – Kitsap Sun

« Previous Page
%d bloggers like this: