Kenai River early run king salmon fishery closed

The 2010 Kenai River early king salmon run is currently the lowest on record. Through Wednesday, June 2, 2010, an estimated 739 king salmon have passed the Kenai River sonar station, well below the historical average of 3,114 fish through this date. Based on historic run timing models, it is expected that 3,800 early-run king salmon are to return to the Kenai River in 2010.
The department has determined that, due to this low run, the lower end of the biological escapement goal (5,300 fish) cannot be achieved with a harvest or a catch-and-release fishery. Anglers are advised that the Kenai River king salmon sport fishery will be closed as follows:
• Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the Soldotna Bridge is
closed to sport fishing for all king salmon from 12:01 a.m., June 5, through 11:59 p.m., June 30.
• Kenai River from the Soldotna Bridge upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake is closed to sport fishing for all king salmon from 12:01 a.m., June 5 through 11:59 p.m., July 14.
• Moose River from its confluence with the Kenai River upstream to the northernmost edge of the Sterling Highway bridge is closed to sport fishing for all king salmon from 12:01 a.m., June 5 through 11:59 p.m., July 14.

• The use of bait will be prohibited in the Anchor, Deep Creek and

http://homertribune.com/2010/06/kenai-river-early-run-king-salmon-fishery-closed/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/2010...housandsofyears


hmmm as temps change so does the food source..

Are you aware of the Pollock trawl fishery bicatch that has killed hundreds of thousands of chinook in the past decade that feed in the same area that pollock feed in the Bearing Sea? Even remote Kodiak Island and West Cook inlet streams are at historic lows for Chinook returns. Many are completely closed like the Kenai is right now. Not global warming...again special interest and greed. Do a search on "Pollock bycatch" and be prepared to be pis*ed at what you read. Feds are coming up with a plan to reduce Chinook bycatch mortality associated with the Pollock fishery but too little too late in my opinion. There are now so few Chinook that reduced bicatch allowance will only finish off what few Chinook remain. At this rate Bob is going to be reduced to clam guiding during the summer. The Pollock trawl fishery must be held accountable...screw filet of fish sandwiches at Mickey D's. Time to act before it's too late.

That is one of the high seas bogeyman theories making the rounds now days, along with the krill/herring/sardine nappers.
These theories are always entertaining, but lack even a shed of scientific backing.
Here's what the experts are saying, oh ya they even have facts to back up their theories.


http://www.pfel.noaa.gov/research/climatemarine/cmffish/cmffishery6.html





Climate Variability & Marine Fisheries




Salmon Populations from Alaska Increased at the Same Time Salmon Stocks From California,
Oregon, and Washington Declined

Salmon stocks from Alaska have been highly productive since the 1976 regime change in the North Pacific, an estimated 3 times more productive than in the 1946-75 period. The periods of increased salmon production correspond to an eastward shift of the Aleutian Low pressure system which produces more frequent and severe winter storms, and a warming of the surface waters in the Gulf of Alaska. This shift between warm and cold periods is now called the Pacific Decadal Oscillation or PDO. The warmer conditions and increased nutrient levels from upwelling in the central Alaska gyre carried northward toward the coast may have contributed to the observed increase in plankton, a source of food for young salmon in the ocean, and thereby to increased Alaskan salmon production. The exact mechanisms that enhanced production are still being investigated, but the change in Alaskan salmon production in the two regimes is well documented. Salmon stocks from California, Oregon, and Washington have increased and decreased out of phase with the fluctuations in salmon in Alaska--and this "reciprocal oscillation" has been going on for the 70 years of available records. Pacific Salmon Catch Records

Click on image to enlarge
Salmon Catch Comparison
Time Series

Click on image to enlarge

Some of the present severe declines have been attributed to changes in their fresh water habitat, including loss of stream habitat, problems resulting from hydroelectic dams, and overharvesting. Environmental signals corresponding to the climate change since 1976 include decreased precipitation and streamflows and warmer coastal ocean temperatures. Sustained cool surface temperatures near the coast, indicating upwelling of nutrient rich water, during the period when young salmon enter the oceans are related to good salmon survival. So warm conditions in this period usually result in poorer survival.




(For current research on the relationship of ocean temperature to Oregon coho survival, go to: PFEL Salmon Research -- James Cole )

(For an Oregon perspective on the decadal variablility, go to: http://www.ocs.orst.edu/reports/climate_fish.html )



TEXT REFERENCES:
1) Beamish, R.J. and D.R. Bouillon. 1993. Pacific Salmon Production Trends in Relation To Climate. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 50:1002-1016.
2) Hare, S.R., Mantua, N.J., and Francis, R.C. 1999. Inverse Production Regimes: Alaska and West Coast Pacific Salmon. Fisheries. 24: 6-14.
3) Mantua, N.J., S.R. Hare, Y. Zhang, J.M. Wallace, and R.C. Francis. 1997. A Pacific Interdecadal Climate Oscillation With Impacts On
Salmon Production. Bull. Amer. Meteorological Soc. 78:1069-1079.







Climate Variability & Marine Fisheries
Page 6
PREVIOUS NEXT





Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service | Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratory | Disclaimer | Feedback

Don't bother us with facts. I do know what the reported pollock by catches are. They are awful, but IMHO not nearly enough to cause the declines we are seeing. How about looking closer to home at the commercial chinook take in Cook Inlet? I do not have those numbers, but whatever it is, it can't help.

And yes, I can see a major climate shift having an effect.

I

Hey Freespool I'm talking Alaska Chinook Salmon here only. California, Washington, Oregon have there own issues. If you think Pollock bicatch of Chinook Salmon is "highseas bogeyman theory" then you either haven't read on the subject or work for the Pollock Industry. Are you aware that there are observers on Pollock trawlers recording chinook bycatch and have for years? That they officially record the kill of Chinook as bicatch? Not Bogeyman theory...fact. Before you categorily dismiss a viewpoint maybe you should do a little research before you come out slinging. Again... do a search on Pollock Bycatch of Chinook and read a half dozen scientific articles. I agree that there are also climatic affects on salmon populations but that isn't license to expedite the demise of Western and South Central Alaska Chinook through Pollock bicatch.

I'm a little disappointed in you Ridgeway, I provided what I thought was a unbiased scientific opinion on why Alaskan chinook salmon stocks are taking a dump, and you didn't even bother to read it.
Note the first sentence where it says Alaska.


Salmon stocks from Alaska have been highly productive since the 1976 regime change in the North Pacific, an estimated 3 times more productive than in the 1946-75 period. The periods of increased salmon production correspond to an eastward shift of the Aleutian Low pressure system which produces more frequent and severe winter storms, and a warming of the surface waters in the Gulf of Alaska. This shift between warm and cold periods is now called the Pacific Decadal Oscillation or PDO. The warmer conditions and increased nutrient levels from upwelling in the central Alaska gyre carried northward toward the coast may have contributed to the observed increase in plankton, a source of food for young salmon in the ocean, and thereby to increased Alaskan salmon production. The exact mechanisms that enhanced production are still being investigated, but the change in Alaskan salmon production in the two regimes is well documented. Salmon stocks from California, Oregon, and Washington have increased and decreased out of phase with the fluctuations in salmon in Alaska--and this "reciprocal oscillation" has been going on for the 70 years of available records.

Ever think that it is some of all this crap, when combined it cascades into increased numbers?

Rephrased that might read.....the sum of all this crap, when combined, cascades into increased numbers.

and that about says it all, IMO

Oh I get it now...Alaska salmon stocks have been highly productive since 1976...that's why numerous rivers in remote parts of Alaska are at historic lows of Chinook returns. It's odd that salmon have been able to adjust to changes in oceanic conditions over thousands of years but they can't seem to adjust to a giant net coming at them or running into a net they can't see. Ocean fisheries around the world are in decline because of one major reason...commercial over fishing. Anyone that tries to tell you that another factor is primary is blowing smoke you know where. Inhale a big puff Freespool..it's you turn.

Believe what you like, but disregarding what professional fisheries scientist say speaks volumes as to where your coming from.
Rant on..........

One must analyze the science, but also wonder who the scientists work for?

One must analyze the science, but also wonder who the scientists work for?

These guys appear to be working for us.




TEXT REFERENCES:
1) Beamish, R.J. and D.R. Bouillon. 1993. Pacific Salmon Production Trends in Relation To Climate. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 50:1002-1016.
2) Hare, S.R., Mantua, N.J., and Francis, R.C. 1999. Inverse Production Regimes: Alaska and West Coast Pacific Salmon. Fisheries. 24: 6-14.
3) Mantua, N.J., S.R. Hare, Y. Zhang, J.M. Wallace, and R.C. Francis. 1997. A Pacific Interdecadal Climate Oscillation With Impacts On
Salmon Production. Bull. Amer. Meteorological Soc. 78:1069-1079.







Climate Variability & Marine Fisheries
Page 6
PREVIOUS NEXT





Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service | Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratory

Take a look at how much longer it is taking the pollack boats to get their quotas. The longer it's tacking to get their fish the more opportunity their is for by catch. Every year they fish longer for fewer fish and the last thing they want to do know is make it harder or more expensive to fish pollack. It's gona get ugly. Money talks and last time I checked salmon wasn't on any menus of the drive threw windows around town.

I choose to call our debate an exchange of opinions but I guess if you disagree with my opinion...I'm ranting. That's a very scientific open-minded approach. Here's a recent federal decision on the Pollock Industry bicatch rules that start in 2011. http://yukonriverpanel.com/salmon/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/bycatch-presentation-dec-2009.pdf

The new bicatch limit is a max of 60,000 chinook killed per year and if the 60K limit is reached in 2 years out of seven then the Pollock fishing will be totally closed. The problem is that Chinook stocks are already so depressed in Western and South Central Alaska that they can't afford to continue these high rates of Chinook bicatch.

In 2007 alone 120,000 Chinook were taken as bicatch in the Bristol Bay Pollock fishery.
In 2006 there were 80,000 Chinook taken as bicatch.

Open your eyes...see the dead Chinook in Pollock nets.

less than 6,000 early run fish back to the worlds most famous king river.

You are a tool beyond belief.

Here and on ifish, you ignore the harvest issue.

With biomass down because of ocean conditions, dont you believe that restricting harvest has merit?

I've come to the conclusion that freespool is a commercial fishing lobbyist lurking on various sport fishing boards ready to spew the company line of global climatic change (with multiple studies in tow) while industry boats unload their booty...irregardless of how it impacts the resource or sport fishers like us.

Hey Sykofish, we have seen 25 years of no harvest of wild steelhead stocks through out the PNW, no listed stocks have recovered, some have even declined, WTF do you call failure?
Thinking that more of the same will somehow turn things around really doesn't even deserve a response.

What do steelhead have to do with Kenai Kings?

Look at the entire picture.

To ignore any aspect of fisherie colapse is ignorant.

Now go back to ifish and try to respond to what Doc asked you. Of course they edited some of what he said, but he makes a dam good point.