They take almost nothing from a stream and the carcass is everything to the natural order and are one the most valuable fish to a watershed. Also Chum is one of the two Salmon species that if you do brood and max out HSRG it has zero hatchery traits carried forward do to the life cycle of the creature. ( You do not rear it )

The down side is not genetics it is the fact that the agency & tribes WILL harvest the hell out of them and impact the current natural spawning population.

There is very little interest in restoring salmonid based ecosystems. There is a great deal of interest in restoring fisheries that target salmonids.

If it can't be killed and eaten, its not worth having around.

Believe what you want, the value of a chum to the river is higher than any species AND in a couple other countries chum are not only rivaling Coho and Chinook, chum is ready to surpass them in value if it hasn't already. Unless I have been lied to by at least 6 different people in different levels of WDFW. Not to mention other people who simply work in the trade and have for years.

Just because most Americans aren't smart enough to figure out how to cook them right doesn't mean they aren't worth eating. I'll bet most that state chum can't be eaten don't like catfish either. And if they do, chum definitely taste less like mud than catfish do.

Research is a wonderful thing as some many that have replied have stated many times to others. Try it this time.

Show me a cheaper way to raise that many fish and raise the same amount of money that chum could bring with a higher return and I will pursue that.

By law the tribes will have their quota IF they decide to take it, the rest of the quota needs to be left alone to support the hatcheries because the agency sure as hell won't. An Increase in the netting schedule should not be allowed, period. The agency can try whatever they want, I think negotiating with tribes and skipping the agency is going to become a much more common trend.

Except that is money is to made be made the tribes will ensure that every singke fish above the escapement goal is taken. First their 50% and then the rest by Foregone Opportunity.

Both that state and tribes have shown, in the past, a willingness to go after each and every fish.

There have been fisheries scheduled to take less than 10 "harvestable" fish.

While I've never killed a river chum (intentionally, anyway), so never have eaten them in an over-ripe state. I have caught quite a few that were chrome and liced in the rivers, but never retained them. I have killed and eaten a couple caught in the salt in like-new condition and found them to taste just fine.

So it is better to raise a few more Coho, steelhead and Chinook than hundreds of thousands of Chum just to have a handful more than could be caught bring a return on our dollar that is 50x less than Chum. All just because I don't eat them because I prefer Lobster and Fillet Mignon instead of round steak and crawdads.

Raising more of all of them WILL have the same impact. Tribes want more and commercials want more so we get even less return and raise next to nothing to raise more of the fish we want.

Show me an easier way to raise money if that is gonna be the only argument that doesn't cost sporties a whole lot more than they get in return.

One other issue that needs to be worked on: If we pay for the fish DIRECTLY do the commercials have any right to them. Might get one entity out of the mix as far as returns and money from raising Chum. 50% of the quota to allocate however the sporty says would be nice. commercials want some, buy em for what we would get if they would made it to the hatchery.

Instead of arguing about it, maybe you should listen to what everyone's saying.

We could even raise some pinks out there too!!!

+1

Time to move on!!!!! What part of "NO" don't you understand??????

I imagine DW the part that everyone is only about 20 or so who responded and of those most were not from the Harbor or remotely familiar with issues at the Hump hatchery / QIN. Anyone working a issue such as this usually seeks input but it is unusual to do it on a BB.

Ocean conditions are auctioned every year as pollock roe.
The PFMC will increase ocean/offshore harvest.

I volunteered at the Johns Creek project starting in the late Eighties. My personal therapy. I thought a rising tide would raise all boats.
Well. Harvest Management asked for more commercial access. The action at WDFW undermined coho for the South Sound.


At the prior North of Falcon meetings sportfishers opted to let more harbor wild chum hit the gravel...

In every salmon producing country the total economic value of chum surpasses the value of coho and chinook. Worldwide chum (pinks in some years) is the top salmon in terms of total economic value, followed by pinks and sockeye, all of which far exceed the value of coho and chinook combined. In the US sockeye is number one in total economic value but pinks are a close second. This reflects the salmon populations in the pacific. The value of an individual fish is more subjective, depending on the size, maturity, where it is harvested if it is harvested, and finally the prejudices of the evaluator. For fish eating peoples around the Pacific rim chum is food, coho and chinook are appreciated but too expensive for the average person.



So true! There has been some attempts to restore chum in the Columbia but the response has not been enthusiastic.

I agree...but we were talking about "money to the hatchery", not carcasses for the stream.

Fish on...

Todd

That is pretty good WN1A as many just do not track the monetary values of fisheries past what they are familiar with.

Slab I went through pretty much the same process over 25 years but in the end as you learn the system you realize it is all about harvest.

As to Chum last year that was a screw job of epic proportions for the local community in GH as not only did the sports not get a season on them it turned the non treaty nets loose for extra time. If it is a NOF paper fish eligible for harvest IT WILL BE HARVESTED. If you do not like fishing Chum DON"T but just because you do not want to catch a Chum does not mean others do not want to. I do not catch planted Rainbow Trout in lakes but those that do, go for it.

Those that love the fishing experience with a true passion have to recognize there are many who just want to catch a fish, any fish.

Edit: Here ia article that will maybe give some insight on what drives some things. http://juneauempire.com/stories/091008/loc_330605733.shtml

So the PFMC sanctions/kills our wild salmon. The offshore pollock trawls, where chum are bycatch, the roe is sent overseas as well.
Americans are fed the leftovers as cheap fish sticks, in the grocers freezer, and fish sandwiches.

This is not a good sign for the future of our public resource.

Carcasses for the stream results from bypass of hatchery fish that spawn and die in the streams. A simple fact of hatcheries that not every fish comes back to the hatchery.

Chum have zero hatchery value on the Humptulips because none are planted now. Even a small number means raising money for the hatchery that is being stripped every year. For those that fish the entire state and could care less about one river, more power to ya. I fish Grays Harbor, it matters to me.

Chinook still bite a hook here. Chum are more than cat food and eggs here. Chum fight like a fish here and not a dead stick. Asked the wrong question in the wrong place I guess. Seems like a recurring theme. If it is not in my back yard............

Give me a better idea since so many think it is such a bad one. Nothing else I have proposed has gotten any support so someone must have a better one. Or is it all just nay say and no better ideas?

Lose the Humptulips hatchery and I lose 1/3 of the rivers I fish for salmon in and 100% of my Chinook opportunity. How many can say the same about their back yard?

Not that it matters much, but I and others around here can say about ten thousand times that about our own backyards here in central Puget Sound.

Fish on...

Todd

It is not the terminal harvest that did in Satsop and 'Nooch chum.

"Managers" at DFW deemed the wild fish as expendable. Impacts chum from a hatchery down South. Ocean commercial harvest is viewed in issolation, stocks, species.

That's the best point I've seen Slab. "Managers" will screw it all up if they have any means to do so.

Any better ideas, anyone?

My backyard is what I'm talking about. My grandpa retired out of Ft Lewis back in the Sixties. Old man wigged out , I served my time, was extended at the convinience of the Govenment after I was burned.
Have no kids of my own but have volunteered for years, teaching aquatic education at my local schools.

A short drive over Donkey Creek road.