Estimating recreational harvest of surf smelt Hypomesus pretiosus via a combined access point and roving creel count design

Fisheries for surf smelt Hypomesus pretiosus in Washington State are currently managed under the assumption that recreational harvest is roughly comparable to commercial harvest on a Puget Sound-wide basis. This assumption may underestimate total fishing pressure and harvest, leading to localized or Sound-wide depletion and negative ecosystem impacts. Assessing recreational effort and harvest is complicated by the lack of a licensing requirement for fishers, the fact that fishing occurs throughout the year but tends to peak during locally specific time windows, and the ability of anglers to engage in the fishery from private shorelines in addition to public access points (e.g., boat ramps). In order to adequately estimate total recreational harvest a survey method must be developed that accounts for spatiotemporally diverse harvest patterns over the entirety of Puget Sound. This presentation will report the results of a pilot study that combines access point and roving, boat-based creel survey techniques to sample a known region of high recreational fishing pressure along the northern shore of Camano island, Puget Sound, WA during the traditional fishing ‘season.’ In addition to providing an estimate of harvest during this period in this location (4419 lbs), patterns of both fishing effort and catch are described through time, in association with tidal and other environmental variables, and compared between public access points and private beaches. We find that, based on the site-specific estimate generated here, the capacity for Sound-wide recreational harvest to exceed the assumed 100,000 lbs exists and that additional monitoring is warranted. We conclude that by further optimizing sample size in both time and space a logistically feasible design can be developed that will allow estimation of recreational smelt harvest for the entirety of Puget Sound

The role of reproductive timing as a driver of genetic differentiation in populations of Pacific herring

There is growing recognition that maintaining diversity in life history traits contributes to the sustainable management of wild populations. One important life history characteristic is reproductive phenology, and it has been shown that differences in the timing of reproduction can act as a barrier to gene flow between populations. If the difference in reproductive timing determines the level of connectivity, one would expect that genetic differentiation between populations would increase as a function of difference in reproductive date. This pattern, known as “isolation by time” (IBT), has been observed in wild populations of salmonids containing early and late runs. Pacific herring in the Salish Sea also exhibit a wide diversity of spawn times; some populations start reproducing as early as January and reproductive activity in the region continues through May. Here, we test whether these temporal differences in reproduction influence the genetic population structure of herring. We collected adult herring from seven different locations in the Salish Sea during active spawning events (N = 48 per site). Samples were sequenced using a restriction site-associated (RAD) approach and approximately 3,000 polymorphic loci were genotyped in each sample. We found a positive correlation between genetic differentiation and difference in spawn date, with evidence of migration between populations with similar spawn timing. Several loci exhibited exceptionally steep gradients in allele frequencies, including one locus linked to the photoperiodic regulation of reproduction. Our discovery of IBT in Pacific herring support the adaptive significance of spawn timing and underscore the importance of conserving spawning time diversity in Puget Sound herring

Age truncation and portfolio effects in Puget Sound Pacific herring

Forage fish undergo dramatic changes in abundance through time. Long-term fluctuations, which have historically been attributed to changes in recruitment, may also be due to changes in adult mortality. Pacific herring, a lightly exploited forage fish in Puget Sound, WA, have exhibited shifts in age structure and decreases in spawning biomass during the past 30 years. Here, we investigate changes in adult mortality as a potential explanation for these shifts. Using a hierarchical, age-structured population model, we indicate that adult natural mortality for Puget Sound Pacific herring has increased since 1973. We find that natural mortality has increased for every age class of adult (age 3+), especially age 4 fish, whose estimated mortality has doubled over the survey time period (from M=0.84 to M=1.76). We demonstrate that long-term shifts in mortality explain changes in age structure, and may explain biomass declines and failure to reach management thresholds for some spawning sites in Puget Sound. Temporal shifts in natural adult mortality could have negative implications for herring and herring predators. For predators, these implications include a reduction in the stability of the herring resource

Forage fish in the southern Salish Sea: results of the midwater acoustic trawl survey

The WDFW conducted a mid-water trawl/hydroacoustic survey at 18 index reaches across the southern Salish Sea (SSS) from Olympia to the Canadian Border, and into the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca. Sampling occurred every other month from February 2016 to February 2017 to gather hydroacoustic data paired with pelagic trawls, vertical plankton tows, and CTD casts. Although 96 different species of fish and invertebrates were captured in the trawls, nine species made up 96% of the overall catch. Catch data demonstrated that Pacific Herring, a common prey of salmon, groundfish, seabirds, and marine mammals, were the most abundant forage fish in the surveyed area, making up 61% of total catch. In Hood Canal, where herring abundance has increased markedly over the last few years, herring made up 89% of total catch. Herring were the most abundant catch in all four sub-basins, although they exhibited large seasonal fluctuations and were a minor component of the catch in June, August, and December. Low herring catches in December were likely the result of fish moving into pre-spawn holding areas nearshore that were too shallow to trawl. Northern Anchovy were infrequently captured but sometimes represented a large percentage of the catch for an individual trawl, particularly in the southern basin in the late summer and early fall. Other notable forage species that made up significant portions of the catch included Pacific hake/whiting, shiner perch, and market squid. Overall, the study captured a “snapshot” of the pelagic species community in Puget Sound after an extended period of anomalously warm surface waters in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and will serve as a reference point for future studies. These data are presented with the hope of fostering future research on pelagic biotic communities and collaborations with researchers studying predators of forage fish throughout the Salish Sea

ESA-listed Puget Sound rockfish: How did we get here and how do we assess progress towards recovery planning goals?

In Puget Sound, WA, rockfish abundance declined significantly over the last 50+ years as a result of fishing pressure, life-history characteristics and the isolated geography of Puget Sound. In 2010, three species of rockfish were listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish and bocaccio. Due to a general lack of data specific to these three species, data from other rockfish species were used to support the listings. Since the listings, targeted research and recovery planning has begun to address major data gaps for these three species. First, cooperative research with the recreational fishing community has revealed that yelloweye rockfish are genetically distinct from coastal populations, whereas canary rockfish are not distinct - which has led to canary rockfish being delisted, the first delisting of a marine fish. Second, an ROV survey has been designed specifically to provide a path forward to estimate changes in abundance of listed rockfish in Puget Sound. Third, the Rockfish Recovery Plan for yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio has been published. This plan provides, and we have begun to address, a list of research activities related to environmental conditions and human activities that might constrain rockfish recovery. Two ongoing studies examine whether specific environmental covariates (e.g. dissolved oxygen) alter the movement and foraging behavior of yelloweye rockfish and whether rockfish bycatch can be reduced in the recreational lingcod fishery by using specific bait types. Finally, we will discuss the criteria to be used for delisting these species under the ESA, including statistical methods and operational challenges

Recovering yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio in the Salish Sea: a collaborative, long-term, multi-pronged approach

Recovering yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio in the Salish Sea: a collaborative, long-term, multi-pronged approach Yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio occupying the Salish Sea have been listed under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 2010, yelloweye as Threatened and bocaccio as Endangered. In 2017, NOAA Fisheries completed a recovery plan for both species, outlining critical data needs and collaborative policy actions to further recovery. In 2020, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the inside waters (i.e., Salish Sea) population of yelloweye as Threatened, a change from the Special Concern status conferred in 2008. Here, I briefly describe several dedicated, collaborative field and laboratory studies on both sides of the international border since 2017; outline remaining data gaps and research opportunities; highlight creation of the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan as a tool for assessing rockfish habitat; and describe targeted outreach and engagement activities, including creation of a children’s book on rockfish biology and conservation. While environmental degradation from a suite of broad-scale forcing factors continues to threaten these species, systematic implementation of strategic recovery plans has bolstered understanding of species biology and ecological role, informing proactive management and stakeholder engagement. Continued, cooperative effort to fill information gaps and methodically address threats at both the species and ecosystem level is required to ensure recovery goals are met

Conservation and Ecology of Marine Forage Fishes— Proceedings of a Research Symposium, September 2012

Locally and globally, there is growing recognition of the critical roles that herring, smelt, sand lance, eulachon, and other forage fishes play in marine ecosystems. Scientific and resource management entities throughout the Salish Sea, agree that extensive information gaps exist, both in basic biological knowledge and parameters critical to fishery management. Communication and collaboration among researchers also is inadequate. Building on the interest and enthusiasm generated by recent forage fish workshops and symposia around the region, the 2012 Research Symposium on the Conservation and Ecology of Marine Forage Fishes was designed to elucidate practical recommendations for science and policy needs and actions, and spur further collaboration in support for the precautionary management of forage fish. This dynamic and productive event was a joint venture of the Northwest Straits Commission Forage Fish Program, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and The Puget Sound Partnership. The symposium was held on September 12–14, 2012, at the University of Washington, Friday Harbor Laboratories campus. Sixty scientists, graduate students, and fisheries policy experts convened; showcasing ongoing research, conservation, and management efforts targeting forage fish from regional and national perspectives. The primary objectives of this event were to: (1) review current research and management related to marine forage fish species; and (2) identify priority science and policy needs and actions for Washington, British Columbia, and the entire West Coast. Given the diversity of knowledge, interests, and disciplines surrounding forage fish on both sides of the international border, the organizing committee made a concerted effort to contact many additional experts who, although unable to attend, provided valuable insights and ideas to the symposium structure and discussions. The value of the symposium format was highlighted in the closing remarks delivered by Joseph Gaydos, SeaDoc Society and Chair of the Puget Sound Science Panel. Dr. Gaydos’ presentation referenced the 2011 paper by Murray Rudd in the journal Conservation Biology, “How research-prioritization exercises affect conservation policy.” The paper points out that policy makers and funding agencies are more likely to gain a full understanding of issues when they are presented with research findings from an aligned research program. That is, compared to unaligned research strategies, where work is not based on identified research priorities

Testing the effectiveness of an inexpensive batch tagging method on Surf Smelt in Puget Sound

Surf Smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) are an important forage fish in the Salish Sea food web, and obligate beach spawners. Due to their small body size, high abundance, high mortality and extensive mobility, forage fish are not commonly considered good candidates for tagging studies. Despite these apparent drawbacks, we conducted a pilot study to determine whether low-cost batch tagging methods could be used to help answer questions about local movements and distribution of Surf Smelt in Puget Sound. Using a beach seine, two known spawning beaches in Eld Inlet, located in south Puget Sound, were sampled for smelt nearly once a month for a year beginning in December 2014. Smelt were tagged using a Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) tag (Northwest Marine Technology), and released. Fish were tagged with various combinations of tag placement and colors denoting the date and location that the fish were originally encountered. Over eight thousand smelt were marked and at least 58 were re-captured. Many recaptures occurred within the same month as the initial capture; however, smelt have been re-captured up to nine months after they were initially tagged. The results of the first year of the study will be presented, and we will discuss potential implications of apparent patterns of tag recoveries

Feeding Behavior of Subadult Sixgill Sharks (Hexanchus griseus) at a Bait Station.

This is the first in-situ study of feeding behaviors exhibited by bluntnose sixgill sharks. Bait was placed beneath the Seattle Aquarium pier situated on the waterfront in Elliott Bay, Puget Sound, Washington at 20m of water depth. Cameras and lights were placed around the bait box to record sixgill shark presence and behavior while feeding. Analysis of feeding behavior revealed that sixgills utilize a bite comparable to many other elasmobranchs and aquatic vertebrates, have the ability to protrude their upper jaw, change their feeding behavior based on the situation, and employ sawing and lateral tearing during manipulation. The versatility of their feeding mechanism and the ability of sixgills to change their capture and food manipulation behaviors may have contributed to the species' worldwide distribution and evolutionary success