WA Salmon Seine Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries
U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.
Current Classification on the List of Fisheries
Category | III |
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Estimated Number of Participants | 81 |
Target Species | Salmon (sockeye, Chinook, pink, coho, and chum) |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans | None |
Observer Coverage | Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) observers deployed |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured | None documented |
Basis for Current Classification
Classified as a Category III fishery based on the lack of documented mortality or serious injuries of marine mammals based on the available data.
Distribution
The fishery targets sockeye, Chinook, pink, coho, and chum salmon within the Puget Sound, located along the northwestern coast of Washington. The purse seine fishery occurs in central Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, and Hood Canal. The fishery usually starts around mid-July and extends until early December, with individual regions opening and closing at different times within the overall fishing season. The beach seine salmon fishery is a fishery targeting Chinook and coho that is only authorized in Hood Canal. The season runs from late July to late September, depending upon the region within the Hood Canal.
Gear Description
Purse seines may have a maximum length of 1,800 feet along the cork line, and the net and lead line combined cannot exceed 2,200 feet. The minimum mesh size of purse seine nets is 3.5 inches and cannot be made of a twine-size smaller than 210/30d nylon, 12-thread cotton, or an equivalent diameter material. There are also specific requirements for the configuration of the cork line in the bunt. In some areas, a brailer and recovery box may be required.
Beach seining involves a net that is able to encircle a group of fish adjacent to a beach with one end of the net attached to a designated boat. The beach seine net cannot be longer than 990 feet, or more than 200 meshes in depth. The mesh must be between 3 and 4 inches and made of twine no smaller than 210/30d nylon, 12-thread cotton, or an equivalent material.
Management
The WDFW, Puget Sound Treaty Tribes, and NMFS jointly manage salmon harvest in Washington. The salmon purse seine fishery requires a limited entry permit, which is transferable. The fishery is managed through season openings, mesh size limits, and limits regarding the amount of time and effort allowed each day or night within the various areas. A portion of the fishery is managed by the Fraser River Panel, which is composed of representatives from the U.S. and Canada. A fish friendly workshop has to be attended by fishermen in order to fish in certain areas. The take of certain salmon species is prohibited in specific areas, and they have to be released immediately if captured. Every fisherman is required to report lost netting to the WDFW. Emergency regulation and in-season changes can occur based on stock allocations and conservation objectives.
Participation in the beach seine fishery involves acquiring a beach seine permit from WDFW (available since 2009). The permit holder must participate on the designated vessel in the open fishery. WDFW may require a logbook to be submitted to prove participation. Only a few permits are issued each year. All non-target fish must be released. Every fisherman is required to report lost netting to the WDFW. Emergency regulation and in-season changes can occur based on stock allocations and conservation objectives.
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) | III (1996) |
Original Number of Participants | 440 |
Basis for Original Classification | Listed as Category III because the fishery was expected to have a remote likelihood of incidental serious injury or mortality of marine mammals. No observer, logbook, or stranding data were available. |
Past Names | WA salmon purse seine |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) | None |
Timeline of Changes
2022 |
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2017 |
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