Only a modest smelt return is forecast for the lower Columbia and Cowlitz rivers in 2016 as state biologists are wary of deteriorating environmental conditions in the Pacific Ocean.
Brad James of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said the outlook is for smelt runs similar to those seen in 2011 and 2012, when a little more than 3 million pounds of smelt came back to the Columbia River.
Smelt runs have averaged about 12.5 million pounds during the past three years.
“Eulachon (smelt) appear very sensitive to how productive the ocean is, particularly as larvae are just entering the ocean,’’ James told the Columbia River Recreational Advisor Group earlier this month. “Now we’re into a period when the ocean is much less productive and there’s greater uncertainty as the ocean is transitioning from good to poor.’’
Ocean conditions were favorable for marine survival during 2012 and 2013, but have deteriorated since.
In 2010, smelt were listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Despite the listing, there were eight commercial fishing periods in the Columbia over four weeks. Sport dipping in the Cowlitz River was allowed five days in 2014 and two in 2015. Oregon allowed a bit of dipping in the Sandy River.
Sport dippers in the Cowlitz netted more than 200,000 pounds of smelt in 2014 and almost 300,000 pounds this year.
“You almost needed valet parking between Lexington and Gerhart last year,’’ said Ed Wickersham, a Ridgefield sport-fishing activist.
“There’s tremendous interest in the I-5 corridor in participating in the Cowlitz dipping,’’ James said.
In 2014, it was estimated there were 7,000 people dipping on March 1, he said. The season was extended a day and 12,000 dippers turned out.
Two days of dipping in February 2015 had 16,000 to 17,000 participants each day.
“You could expect it to increase this year, he added.
However, Washington officials are damping down expectations, saying if dipping occurs, it likely will be similar or reduced from 2014 and this year.
James said prospects for smelt fishing in 2016 are being discussed with the National Marine Fisheries Service.
“We’re trying to hold on to the minimal fisheries to help use in monitoring,’’ he said.
Multiple members of the Recreational Advisor Group asked about the potential for requiring a smelt-dipping license, or at least a state fishing license.
“That puts us in a delicate position,’’ said Ron Roler, Columbia River policy coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “We’d be asking the Legislature to put a license on a fish that’s listed.’’
