phillips ssss ct presentation larry phillips wdfw
TRANSCRIPT
Seasonal Movements and Associated Management Implications for Coastal Cutthroat Trout in South Puget
Sound.
Larry Phillips Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,
Fred Goetz, and Tom QuinnUniversity of Washington,
Christopher EllingsNisqually Indian Tribe
Coastal Cutthroat Trout Management in WA. Important sport fish species in South Puget
Sound.
Historically supported a large harvest fishery (harvest trout).
Overharvest resulted in declines (anecdotal).
WDFW responded with conservative regulations.
1999 catch and release was implemented in all marine areas.
Coastal Cutthroat Trout Stock Status Status Review of Coastal Cutthroat Trout from
Washington, Oregon, and California (NMFS 1999).
Six ESU (Puget Sound, Olympic Peninsula, Southwestern Washington/Columbia River, upper Willamette River, Oregon Coast, and Southern Oregon/California Coasts).
Puget Sound ESU includes all streams in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
NMFS determined that Puget Sound ESU is not in danger of extinction (decision was based on relatively few data).
2000 Washington State, Salmon and Steelhead Inventory (SaSI), coastal cutthroat (WDFW 2000). Insufficient data were available to assess stock status for 32 of the 40 WA stocks.
Western South Sound Coastal Cutthroat Status is “Unknown” (SaSI, 2000)
Stock Status Challenges Coastal cutthroat trout don’t follow the rules.
Limited incidental observation data and few trap data (size selective, and run-timing).
No harvest /angling effort data available (CRC or fish tickets).
No baseline information (no historical escapement estimates).
Coastal Cutthroat Trout Stock Assessment. 2006 WDFW staff began surveying South Puget Sound
streams thought to support spawning coastal cutthroat.
Objective was/is to develop a set of index surveys (similar to coho and chum stock assessment) to detect changes in relative abundance over time.
Quickly identified Skookum Creek as supporting a “high density” spawning population of anadromous coastal cutthroat trout.
Other index stream include Kennedy Creek (2009), Little Skookum Creek (2008), Swift Creek (2010) and Perry Creek (2010).
2008 2009 20100
1020304050607080
Skookum Creek 6.5-7.5 Skookum Creek 5.7-6.5Little Creek 0-0.4 Kennedy Creek 0-2.3
Num
ber o
f Red
dsSouth Puget Sound Coastal Cutthroat Trout Redd Counts, (by Stream Index) 2008-2010.
2/5/20092/9/20092/13/20092/17/20092/21/20092/25/20093/1/20093/5/20093/9/20093/13/20093/17/20093/21/20093/25/20093/29/20094/2/20094/6/20094/10/20094/14/20094/18/20094/22/20094/26/20094/30/2009
0
5
10
15
20
25
Survey Date
Num
ber o
f New
Red
ds
Coastal Cutthroat Trout Index Area Redd Counts, Skookum Creek, 2008-09.
Individual Cutthroat Redd Locations (2008-09)
N
2008-09 Acoustic Tagging Project
Tagged and released (Oct. 2008) 30 adult coastal cutthroat in Skookum Inlet (15) and near Squaxin Island (15).
Established 18 receiver locations in South Puget Sound and in Skookum Creek (November 2008-May 2009).
Document mortality, movements, and relative abundance of tagged fish in Skookum Creek index.
Acoustic ReceiverData Retrieval
and Tags
Surgical Insertion of Tag
Anchor and Float Rigging for Marine and Freshwater Deployment
Location of Acoustic Tag Receiver Stations and Coastal Cutthroat Trout Tagging
Locations in South Puget Sound (2008-09).
2008 Acoustic ReceiverNetwork
SSM
OBILE
Skookum Cr R
M 4
Skookum Cr M
outh
Mid Sk
ookum In
Wild
cat C
ove
S Skookum In
SW Totten In
NW Totten In
NE Totten In
Carlyon Beach
South
Hope Is
SW Sq
uaxin Is
S Squaxin
Is
Mill
Cr Mouth
Golds. Cr M
outhEld In
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Skookum Release Group Squaxin Release Group
Receiver Location
% D
etec
ted
Coastal Cutthroat Trout Detections in South Puget Sound, Oct. 08-May 09.
November
December
January
Febru
ary
March
AprilMay
June0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Skookum Fish Squaxin Fish
Coastal Cutthroat Trout Post Release Detections, by Month, (and Release Group)
in South Puget Sound, Oct. 08-May 09.
Results Four of the fish tagged were either not detected or
detected in only one location (Mortality).
None of the tagged fish were detected outside South Puget Sound.
15% (n=4) of tagged fish were detected at RM 4 below the Skookum Creek Index site.
Two of the fish detected at RM 4 were not detected again at RM 0 (high post spawning mortality).
Receivers deployed at the mouths of Skookum Creek, Goldsborough Creek, and Mill Creek detected 58% of tagged fish.
Conclusions These data suggest that acoustic tagging cutthroat
results in low short term (6 months) mortality.
Index surveys may be useful at detecting changes in relative abundance over time.
These data also indicated that Goldsborough Creek and Mill Creek could be important spawning locations in South Puget Sound.
Based on limited data, West South Sound Coastal cutthroat appear to be stable.
More information is needed………
Tag # 20539 320mm fish Tagged in Skookum Inlet November
3rd.
Remained in Skookum Inlet until Jan 1st when moved to Totten Inlet.
Returned to Skookum Inlet on Jan 10th and was illegally harvested on April 1st.
Acknowledgments
Scott Steltzner and Sarah Haque (Squaxin Indian Tribe), Don Freeman, Hal Boynton, and Bill Young, Jack Haven (volunteers).
Questions?