Kim Feely, Eilyne Lewis, Shirly Nevin, Aya Kamigaki
Angling Education Classes for Obtaining a State Fishing License



The Washington State Salmon Recovery Strategy "Extinction is not an Option" contains a proposal to increase public education about the needs of salmon and to strengthen laws and regulations regarding the illegal take of salmonids. Our proposal is to create a two-hour salmonid education class that children age ten to seventeen would attend, one time only, before receiving a steelhead or gamefish license. We believe that adopting this proposal will help achieve stategy goals of public education and salmon protection with participants of these classes being taught responsible fishing ethics, techinques and the importance of stewardship of our aquatic resources.
 
 

Studies show that while the majority of salmon are either caught by commercial fisherman or killed passing through hydroelectric dams, sportsfishing also contributes significantly to declining salmon populations. An informal survey indicates that many sportsfishers are unable to: 1. properly identify different species of salmonids at varying stages of their life cycle, 2.cannot identify salmon redds or 3. understand and demonstrate proper catch and release techniques.
 
 

The Recovery Strategy lists better enforcement of existing laws related to salmon, such as eliminating the illegal taking of fish, as one of several goals to be achieved. According to an Enforcement Officer of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, most anglers do not intentionally break fishing laws. They simply cannot properly identify what they catch. Improving the ability of anglers to identify their catch would decrease unintentional take and ease the burden on Enforcement Officers.
 
 

Even with accurate identification, fish are often killed by improper catch and release techniques. Statistics show hooking mortality rates may be as high as 90%. This percentage depends on fish size and type of equipment used. Hooking mortality is 3 times higher for smaller Salmonids (< 33) than for larger . The type of equipment used significantly impacts hooking mortality. The Scientific and Statistical Committee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council found a 66 % mortality rate for anglers using J hooks and 33 % for those using circle hooks. Barbed hooks have a mortality rate of 40%, while barbless hooks have a rate of 20%.

Most researchers agree that learning what equipment to use and how to properly handle hooked fish could bring the hooking mortality rate to 5% or less.
 
 

Salmon habitat has been indisputably impacted by man. The Chehalis River Council reports that salmon edds are being impacted not only by Anglers but by many different recreational users such as hikers, ATVer’s, swimmers, agate hunters, rafters, etc. This is primarily due to ignorance. No one intends to kill eggs by destroying the redds. People just don’t know that stepping on or riding through a section of a stream can fatally injure the eggs and newly hatched salmon that are in the gravel. Stream users need to know what to look for, and avoid spawning places. According to B. Sleeper . Against the Current: the Northwest Crisis, 1997 "Salmon gravel beds and clear-water brood channels are extremely vulnerable to human intrusion."

Angler education should be an important part of the Recovery Strategy.





Section IV F 10 part II states that "the overall mission is to inform, build support, involve and mobilize citizens to assist in restoration, conservation and enhancement of salmon habitat." The three main goals are: 1. Inform the public about the condition of steelhead and salmon and how the public can be involved in their recovery. 2. Inform the public about the impacts of the ESA listed salmon, steelhead and trout in their watersheds. 3. Promote and enhance volunteer resources needed to implement recovery efforts".

We therefore propose that the Washington State Salmon Recovery Strategy be amended to include a Junior Angling Education Class which would require all minors aged 10 through 17 to attend an angling class prior to being issued a State Steelhead or Gamefish license. Class curriculum would include identification of species, proper catch and release techniques and habitat with an emphasis on local ordinances and individual watershed needs supported by a detailed statewide curriculum taught by individuals, groups, organizations and associations.

Funding would be from various pooled sources such as the State Salmon Recovery Strategy/ educational funds included in 20% of state and federal recovery funds; access to Wallop-Breaux sportfishing restoration funds of which 10% is allocated for education with matching requirements met by costing volunteer time; grant aid through Section 6, Endangered Species Act; support from sportfishing associations such as Trout Unlimited, the American Sportsfishing Association: Fish America Foundation and by various volunteer groups such as 4H, Boy and Girl Scouts of America, the Grange and Hunting and Fishing clubs.

Success of this licensing requirement would be measured by the number of citizens, groups, organizations and associations that volunteer their time
 


Supporting Documentation



Catch and release know how a must with tighter fishing limits. Colorado Division of Wildlife, Dept. of Natural Resources, 1998
Retrieved: http://www.dnr.state.co.us/cdnr_news/wilflife/980202171958.html

Stauffer G, Lawrence D. Summary minutes Scientific and Statistical Committee of Pacific Coast Management Council. March 3-4 Portland, OR. (1998, November
Retrieved: http://www.pcouncil.org/ssc97_03-fin.htm

The Chehalis River Council.. Please Watch Out for Salmon Redds.
Retrieved: http://www.wln.com/~crc/newsltr/news9807.html

Sleeper B. Against the current: the northwest salmon crisis. Animals 1997;130 (3): 28-32

 

 

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