The broodstock program is allowed to use motorized boats. As you can understand, there are few ways to accomplish this kind of work without motors.

The reason broodstock are not collected from the lower 6 miles is increased pre-spawn mortality. Fish just in from the salt are very sensitive to handling and holding and do not survive the ordeal nearly as well as fish that have been in the fresh for a while.

Cut the program some slack... it may just be one of the more important data gathering efforts for wild fall chinook in the region when considering international fisheries management planning.