Salmon Health & Population Assessments
The Finfish program develops forecasts for hatchery Chinook, hatchery Coho, and natural Coho for East Kitsap annually. The Suquamish Tribe prides itself in using the best available current data to develop run size forecasts.
Monitoring Migrating Juvenile Salmon
The Suquamish Tribe, with assistance from Pacific Salmon Treaty research funds, has implemented monitoring to better understand natural Coho salmon out-migration from two main tributaries within the Chico Creek watershed in East Kitsap County. Smolt trapping on Lost and Wildcat Creeks began in spring 2011 with an objective to develop a wild Coho salmon production index for the Upper Chico watershed which can then be utilized in the broader Puget Sound Coho run size forecasting methodology. This information provides important data in determining the potential range of fishery management constraints necessary to address concerns for Puget Sound natural Coho stocks. As an added bonus (although not the focus), this monitoring project also provides additional yearly out-migrant data for sea-run cutthroat trout and winter steelhead.
Adult Returns
Each year the marine fish biologists conduct stream surveys throughout East Kitsap County for Chinook, Coho, and Chum Salmon. This entails walking different streams throughout the county each day every week. The biologists record weekly live and dead salmon counts as well as collect Coded Wire Tags (CWTs) and scales from the fish in stream. The Tribe uses this data to produce annual escapement estimates for Coho and Chum salmon returning to East Kitsap streams in partnership with co-managers.
Commercial Fishery Sampling
Commercial fishery sampling involves biologists collecting biological data, catch composition, and size from landings to inform quotas, run reconstructions, and conservation limits. Biologists inspect catches dockside, after sell out, or via onboard observers to gather biological samples, CWTs, and catch composition. Scales and tissue samples (for genetic stock identification) are collected to determine run origins and age classes. Snouts are scanned for CWTs to track specific hatchery and wild stock contributions.
Forecasts
The marine fish program develops forecasts for hatchery Chinook, hatchery Coho, and natural Coho for East Kitsap annually. Suquamish is one out of seven of the Puget Sound Tribes that is currently processing their own CWTs and using real time CWT data to inform the expected forecast for hatchery Chinook each year. Snouts are collected from our two hatcheries, commercial and subsistence fisheries, as well as various streams throughout East Kitsap County during spawning ground escapement surveys. The Suquamish Tribe prides itself in using the best available current data to develop run size forecasts.
