Originally published Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Salmon arrive late, but Klamath Basin returns beating goals
After three straight lean years, 2007 returns of wild fall chinook salmon to the Klamath Basin have exceeded the minimums set by federal...
The Associated Press
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — After three straight lean years, 2007 returns of wild fall chinook salmon to the Klamath Basin have exceeded the minimums set by federal fisheries managers.
However, the numbers of young fish known as jacks returning to the basin so far indicate low returns of mature fish in fall 2008, unless preliminary counts improve.
Preliminary counts from fishing-counting stations and carcass surveys show about 50,000 salmon returning to the Klamath and Trinity rivers and their tributaries in Northern California to spawn, California Department of Fish and Game senior biologist Larry Hanson said Friday from Yreka, Calif.
For unknown reasons, Klamath salmon returned three to five weeks later than normal, with some stragglers showing up as late as January, Hanson added.
The returns, which do not include fish from hatcheries, were particularly good in light of the high level of fishing allowed in the ocean and at the river's mouth this year, Hanson added.
The Klamath Basin once was the third-biggest salmon producer on the West Coast, but returns of fall chinook have been struggling for decades from loss of habitat to logging, mining and dams, and overfishing. Spring chinook are practically wiped out. Coho salmon are a threatened species.
When Klamath returns are weak, federal fisheries managers must severely restrict ocean fishing for healthier stocks to avoid wiping out fish that spawn naturally in rivers.
Returns in 2004, 2005 and 2006 failed to reach the 35,000 minimum set by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, which sets ocean salmon fishing seasons and quotas.
Concerns for Klamath River fish were so great in 2006 that commercial salmon fishing was effectively shut down off most of California and Oregon, leading to a federal disaster declaration.
Final counts of Klamath salmon returns are due in February. The council will use those numbers in making recommendations for salmon seasons in March. Final seasons will be set in April.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 09:46 AM
Exxon Mobil wins ruling in Alaska oil spill case
NEW - 7:51 AM
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
Longview mill spills bleach into Columbia River
NEW - 8:00 AM
More extensive TSA searches in Sea-Tac Airport rattle some travelers

nwautos
Turismo upgrade "Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition" for PlayStation 3 has features such as new car-tuning settings, new NASCAR vehicles, better replay video...
Post a comment
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
462 - Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming
355 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
269 - 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
242 - Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement
231 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game
140 - Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
121 - AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule
110 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
100
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- A wandering gene's destructive path | Book review







