Development of a System-Wide Predator Control Program: Stepwise Implementation of a Predation Index, Predator Control Fisheries, and Evaluation Plan in the Columbia River Basin; Northern Pikeminnow Management Program, 2001 Annual Report.

Technical Report · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/842946· OSTI ID:842946

Porter, Russell G.; Winther, Eric C.; Fox, Lyle G.

This report presents results for year eleven in a basin-wide program to harvest northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis). This program was started in an effort to reduce predation by northern pikeminnow on juvenile salmonids during their emigration from natal streams to the ocean. Earlier work in the Columbia River Basin suggested predation by northern pikeminnow on juvenile salmonids might account for most of the 10-20% mortality juvenile salmonids experience in each of eight Columbia River and Snake River reservoirs. Modeling simulations based on work in John Day Reservoir from 1982 through 1988 indicated that, if predator-size northern pikeminnow were exploited at a 10-20% rate, the resulting restructuring of their population could reduce their predation on juvenile salmonids by 50%. To test this hypothesis, we implemented a sport-reward angling fishery and a commercial longline fishery in the John Day Pool in 1990. We also conducted an angling fishery in areas inaccessible to the public at four dams on the mainstem Columbia River and at Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River. Based on the success of these limited efforts, we implemented three test fisheries on a system-wide scale in 1991--a tribal longline fishery above Bonneville Dam, a sport-reward fishery, and a dam-angling fishery. Low catch of target fish and high cost of implementation resulted in discontinuation of the tribal longline fishery. However, the sport-reward and dam-angling fisheries were continued in 1992 and 1993. In 1992, we investigated the feasibility of implementing a commercial longline fishery in the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam and found that implementation of this fishery was also infeasible.

• Research Organization: Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Bonneville Power Administration
• OSTI ID: 842946
• Report Number(s): DOE/BP-00004477-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COLUMBIA RIVER
COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN
DAMS
EVALUATION
FISHERIES
Fishery management - Columbia River Watershed.
HYPOTHESIS
IMPLEMENTATION
JUVENILES
MORTALITY
Predation (Biology)
Ptychocheilus oregonensis - Control - Columbia River Watershed
RIVERS
SIMULATION
TARGETS