Something else for to consider about CNR besides hooking mortality (this is merely speculation).

Perhaps on average, a fish that is CNRed repeatedly is not as effective in spawning as a fish that has not been caught ever.

I am not aware of any data that addresses this issue. However, it stands to reason that it might have an effect. Steelhead have limited energy resources (and no way to obtain more in river) and extra energy is burnt every time a fish is caught.

Sure a CNRed fish is more productive than a bonked fish, but I bet on average not as productive as an fish that was never caught.

I just think the assumption that a CNR season will automatically have less impacts than a catch and kill season is potentially false.

I am sure that if you have 5 times as many fishermen and a season 4 times longer under CNR as you would catch and kill, then you will have more impacts under CNR just on hooking mortality. If you assume each fish was CNRed multiple times before spawning, that will probably be a negative impact too. I think we need some data on CNR fish spawning productivity before we adopt it as the permanent managment strategy of the future.

The method is irrelevant, it is the impacts to the fish that need to be controlled.


Just something to ponder. . .