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WILD STOCK MANAGEMENT AND ROLE OF HATCHERIES 



To maximize opportunities for artificial enhancement without jeopardizing wild 

 stocks, adequate information on the history of introduced stocks and release 

 locations is needed. Although this exists, it has not been analyzed, because 

 most of the data is on paper only, and not computerized. A complete river-by- 

 river history of stock identity would be useful in sketching the degree of 

 similarity between hatchery and native stock for each river system in the 

 Basin, at a minimum for fall chinook and winter steelhead. For example, the 

 Satsop received more outside fall chinook transfers than the rest of the Basin 

 (Brix, WDF, pers. coram. ) ; verifying this observation against actual release 

 records could confirm or modify the present policy of limiting transfers of 

 Satsop chinook outside that system. 



This information would allow fishery management agencies to formally agree on 

 the role of hatcheries in augmentation, supplementation, and wild stock 

 management in each sub-watershed and each segment of Grays Harbor where a 

 particular fishery operates. 



Further research is also needed on the genetic, disease, and ecological 

 interaction effects of supplementation of wild stocks using hatchery-reared 

 fish. Population simulation models should be developed to evaluate the sizes 

 and locations of enhancement facilities that can be established without 

 causing harm to wild stocks. 



REGULATION OF FISHING 



Current management of Chehalis Basin terminal salmon and winter steelhead has 

 at times resulted in overharvest (Figures 8, 10, 12, and 13, Table 5). 

 Managers will have more success if the following information needs are met. 



Eacapeaent Goals 



The total spawning habitat available for coho, chinook, and steelhead is 

 thought to be greater than previously estimated. If true, habitat-based 

 eBcapement goals could be adjusted bo that escaping adults more fully utilize 

 all available habitat. This is why one goal of the current FWS habitat survey 

 is to begin assessing the quantity of coho and steelhead spawning and rearing 

 habitat and Chinook spawning habitat. Some additional work will be needed over 

 the next several yearB to enable refinement of the goals. 



Escapement Estiaation Evaluations 



Current QFiD spawning escapement evaluation work should continue. They count 

 the number of fish passing upstream at a trap in the fish ladder of the West 

 Fork Hoquiam diversion dam. Spawning surveys are then conducted on the stream 

 so that, on an annual basis, estimated escapements are compared to actual 

 populations, species composition on the spawning grounds are verified, and 

 within-species sex composition is determined. 



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