DESIGNED TO PROTECT resident killer whales, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has proposed either an all-fin ban or a salmon ban for sports fishing in Canadian waters along the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Sheringham Point to East Point, on a trial basis from May through September.
To put that stretch of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in geographical reference, it would stretch from roughly due north of the Twin Rivers area between Joyce and Clallam Bay all the way to northwest of San Juan and Waldron islands on the eastern edge.
According to the Canadians, the initiative would help maintain chinook salmon populations in essential feeding areas for southern resident killer whales who rely on chinook salmon to survive.
Killer whales eat plenty of chinook as research conducted in the Strait of Juan de Fuca by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Fisheries and Oceans Canada shows.
Canadian research
The Canadian research was published last month at tinyurl.com/PDN-BCStudy, while the U.S. info came out in 2015 (tinyurl.com/PDN-NOAAWhales) but both studies reached similar dietary conclusions.
Information from the Canadian research is presented below.
“Genetic analysis of prey fragments from southern resident killer whales foraging events shows that from May to September, the diet is comprised of about 90 percent chinook, despite this species being far less abundant than sockeye and pink salmon. Age determination of the prey indicates that the majority of chinook are from the 4- and 5-year age class. In early fall, coho appear in the diet and increase in prevalence, and for the fall/early winter period, the primary species in the diet shifts to chum … “While less is known about the winter distribution of SRKW and their winter and spring diet, chinook are identified as the primary dietary species, although a greater diversity of prey is observed in winter sampling, and some non-salmonids appear in both the prey fragment collections and the fecal data set.”
Unfortunately, the Canadian research only lists managing “impacts of other consumers of chinook salmon (e.g., seals, sea lions, seabirds,)” under “Other Management Ideas” towards the end of the document.
It ignores findings that show populations of seals and sea lions have rebounded in the past 40 years in a study by Oregon State University, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and tribal scientists and published last October in Scientific Reports.
The “dramatic” increase in salmon consumption, an estimate based on models, comes as the overall harvest from commercial and recreational fisheries has dropped more than 40 percent since 1975, the study found.
The increase in activity from the marine predators could be “masking the success of coast wide conservation efforts.”
Scientists said the pinniped population boom may also explain why endangered killer whales in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia (the Salish Sea) are struggling to recover. The study pointed at competition with seals and sea lions — not humans — as a “more important factor” explaining killer whales’ populations issues.
“We have been successful at restoring and improving the population status of protected marine mammals,” Brandon Chasco, an Oregon State University Ph.D. candidate and lead author of the study said in a statement. “But now we have the potential for protected seals and sea lions to be competing with protected killer whales, and all of which consume protected chinook salmon.”
According to the study, pinnipeds and killer whales ate roughly 5 million chinook in 1975 but are now estimated to consume 31.5 million individual fish each year.
Killer whales as a species eat more fish than either of the pinnipeds.
The study found during the same period that commercial and recreational fisheries dropped from harvesting 3.6 million individual salmon to 2.1 million in 2015. The area ranges from central California to Alaska.
Curtailing all forms of recreational fishing appears to be a misguided attempt at saving the whales.
North of Falcon meeting
Representatives from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will discuss North of Falcon, the annual salmon fishing season setting process, at tonight’s meeting of the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers.
The event will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave. in Sequim, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
State fisheries biologists will be on hand to answer questions.
The fishing public is highly encouraged to come and let your voice be heard.
Razor dig set
Razor clam diggers can return to various ocean beaches for a two-day opening beginning Friday.
State shellfish managers with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife approved the dig on evening low tides after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat.
“We’ll have more beaches open for this upcoming dig and expect to draw some crowds, especially with the Ocean Shores Razor Clam Festival on Saturday,” said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for Fish and Wildlife.
Ayres noted the best digging will take place before sunset each night of the opening.
The upcoming dig is approved on the following beaches, dates and evening low tides:
•Friday, 7:03 p.m.; +0.2 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks
•Saturday, 7:36 p.m.; +0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
Another dig is tentatively scheduled on various ocean beaches April 19-22.
Fly Fishers meet
The Sequim Greywolf Fly Fishers will meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Masonic Lodge, 700 S. Fifth Ave, Sequim.
There will be a brief business meeting, followed by fishing reports on local lakes and favorite flies that successfully catch fish.
The remainder of the meeting is reserved for individual fly tying. Attendees may tie a fly of your choice (bring fly-tying equipment and materials) or observe this month’s tying event. There will also be a fly raffle and discussion about recent adventures.
The club’s 2018 annual dues are due: single fishers are $20 and family fishers are $30.
For more information, call Erik Simpson at 360-683-6684.
