Pacific smelt could get federal protection
March 17th, 2008 by adminPacific smelt, a small fish taken by both recreational and commercial fishers, will be reviewed by biologists for potential listing under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The total commercial harvest in the Columbia River and its tributaries exceeded a million pounds year until 1993. Since then, the median harvest has been about 43,000 pounds, according to a petition filed by the Cowlitz Tribe in Longview. (See the National Marine Fisheries Service Web site for details.)
The petition describes severe declines in smelt runs along the entire Pacific Coast, including possible local extinctions in Oregon and California.
I have to admit that I was a little confused when I first heard that this petition had been accepted. I had to ask biologists if this is the same fish we know and love in Puget Sound, the fish we commonly call surf smelt.
Greg Bargmann and Doris Small, both with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, told me that the two kinds of smelts are different species, but they belong to the same family, Osmeridae.
Pacific smelt (Thaleichthys pacificus), also known as eulachon or candlefish, are anadromous (going between fresh water and saltwater) and range from Central California to Alaska.
Surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus), sometimes called silver smelt, spawn in intertidal areas and never leave saltwater.
Not to confuse the issue, but surf smelt are a popular sport fish in many areas of the state, including Hood Canal, Sinclair Inlet, Dyes Inlet and Liberty Bay. A large number of the fish are caught each winter at Ross Point outside of Port Orchard.
If you’ve ever seen a bunch of cars parked along Highway 160 outside of Port Orchard between October and January, you can tell the surf smelt must be running. If you have never stopped there, it’s worth taking a look. The smelt fishermen will tell you all about it.
Here is a map of the locations surf smelt can be found in Puget Sound. For details about recreational and commercial fishing and other management issues, check out information from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
March 20th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Once, for me, the yearly Hood Canal smelt run and a new school year was synonymous with fall and excitment.
There has never been a tastier, melt in your mouth, crunchy, sweet tasting flavorful fish as the small smelt we raked up on the beach and my mother cooked… in the ‘old’ days..
These days, I wouldn’t eat anything coming out of Puget Sound waters.
A plus is current awareness and the dedicated people and groups devoted to the notion of cleaning up our waterways.
If they manage to stay on track and focused, the next generation will again have a healthy seafood banquet of choice.
Good job, Christopher…you are a means of enlightening us all to the different research and results…a beneficial sharing.
Thank you,
Sharon O’Hara