Skyrise-
Let's indeed talk numbers!

In 2020 (the latest year I could find catch numbers) the Skykomish fishery caught 1,204 Chinook (547 adults and 657 jacks), from WDFW sport catch report.

In 2020 the return to the Wallace hatchery was escapement was 5,130 Chinook (3,848 adults and 1,282 jacks), from the hatchery escapement report.

In 2020 the spawner escapement was 1,975 wild and 747 hatchery (both adult and jacks).

Thus we know that Skykomish in-river run of 7,081 (sum of hatchery escapement, in-river escapement and catch). Of those fish 1,204 were retained in the recreational fishery. That 1,204 fish represent 17% of the hatchery fish.

Assuming that the wild fish are as catchable it would be reasonable to assume that during that fishery 17% of the wild run was also handled. With a co-manager agreed to release mortality of 10%. Meaning that the 17% handling of the wild population equates to 1.7% impact/mortality of the wild population from that fishery.

Because there in-river fishery occurs after much of the harvest has take place the actual in-river impacts for our 2020 example was likely something in the 1.4% (need the total run reconstruction to more precisely determine that number which will not be available for several years.

While a impact 1.4% does seem like much it becomes significant considering that the coast wild total impacts target is 20% and the SUS target is 8.3% at current returning abundances.

In my opinion the in-river was an easy target this year because there was no one at the table advocating or arguing for that fishery. There are arguments to be made for that fish if some folks were will to take part in the process and prepare themselves with solid information rather some off the wall ideas.

Some of the information that might help support arguments for the fishery includes the following:

The Wallace is in the process of increasing the overall production from 5 million to 8 million (to release at site and Tulalip) meaning more fish will be need at the hatchery.

Current WDFW policy calls to emphasis diverse opportunities.

An argument use for many of the tribal fisheries would also apply to this recreational fishery - that it is not a mixed stock fishery; the fish caught are only Skykomish fish.

The fishery seems to have a history catching Jacks are elevated thus helping reducing hatchery jack contribution to the natural spawning population.

Something to think about.

curt