Great video! Good overview of the history of the chum salmon fishery, natural history of the fish itself, and the reintroduction efforts. Hats off to ODFW and those working on this project; it's amazing work. Sadly, I wonder how far reintroduction will be able to go when so much of the problem lies in the dams that block access to so much of the historical range. I do hope recovery efforts progress on that front as well. -cheers from a fellow Oregon ecologist
Just saying, Anyone who has eaten chum salmon knows they taste terrible compared to the other four species! We in Alaska call them dog salmon because the sled dog owners feed it to their dogs!😳😳😳
@@troyottosen8722 I don't know if you meant to reply to me specifically because my comment had nothing to do with how salmon taste, but yes, I know that chum salmon are generally considered "undesirable". It doesn't change the fact that they were overfished in the past and that they're an incredibly important food source for numerous other species. They deserve protection, even if humans don't think they taste good :)
@@seisage , what state you live in? Afraid to say? I live here in Alaska, a fishing place uncompared! Chum salmon has nothing compared to the other four species of Pacific salmon! My point is the dams on the Columbia have ruined the wild stock habitat, fishery of salmon along the Columbia and snake river! If you lived in that area you would know it! You live in Oregon, Washington? Watch what you say! Wanna look stupid? Or your simply young and ignorant!😳🤪🤣
This is a great video showing some of the recovery efforts ODFW is undergoing for the reintroduction and preservation of just one of the many different species of anadromous fish in the Columbia River Basin. I would like to bring viewer’s attention to the hydro-electrical dam at 1:05 in the video. This is Hells Canyon Dam, one of three dams in the mid Snake River. Here is where all anadromous fish runs stop, as there are no fish ladders for bypass on any of these dams privately owned by Idaho Power. These three dams in the 90’s was estimated to only supply 3 percent of the nation’s power supply. This is important as you can see at 5:49 in the video, the amount of historical range blocked by these three dams. Eastern Oregon and Southwest Idaho produced millions of anadromous fish in water sheds known as Pine Creek, Burnt River, Powder River, and the Malheur River system in Oregon. In Idaho the lack of fish bypass at the Hells Canyon Complex keeps anadromous fish from returning to the Boise River, Payette River, Weiser River and a multitude of other tributaries which were massive producers of anadromous fish. Let us not forget the main stem of the Snake River one of the largest producers of spring and fall Chinook in the Columbia Basin. As you can see and interpret from the video restoring critical habitat is essential for the preservation, protection, and rebuilding of these essential fish runs. There are a multitude of issues associated with the Hells Canyon Complex. Relicensing, water pollution, and many others can be found with a favorite internet browser search, but something that has never been on the table is fish by-pass at these facilities. To the best of my recollection and to the viewers you are reading this comment if I don’t have correct I apologize, but I believe the State of Oregon supported by ODFW took 20 million from Idaho Power to not discuss fish passage on these dams for the next 20 years. The Salmon and Steelhead runs under Hells Canyon Dam will not be around 20 years from now. Idaho passed legislation in 2017 making it illegal to re-introduce anadromous fish above the Hells Canyon Complex. This information can be found in House Joint Memorial No.2 by resource and conservation committee. House Bill 169. As an Oregon avid steelhead and salmon sportsman I find this appalling. If habitat is so critical to the survival of salmon and steelhead, which I remind you are listed in the Federal Registry as Threatened and Endangered why are we not serious about habitat blocked by the Hells Canyon Complex. If you fish for these species I am sure you have heard or read the arguments on the removal of the lower four Snake River dams to help main stem Chinook salmon recovery efforts. I simply ask that viewers of this video also look at the historical range of anadromous fish runs above the Hells Canyon Complex and make their own determination on whether or not a private company should be allowed to control a public resource. Maybe a better bang for out buck as avid salmon and steelhead pursuers are to make our elected officials deal with this loss of critical habitat
Very good points. This dam, and the dam(s) cutting off access to BC on the Columbia are appalling that were ever constructed, and shocking if reinforced through policy to this day as you mention in your comment.
@@jimsomerville3924 You are absolutely correct, did you know above Grand Coulee dam, there was a run of salmon know as the June hog. Fish weighed in at over 80lbs. Huge upper river fish, gone for ever. If we continue to look at the magnitude of lost habitat it becomes very depressing.
I was born in Oregon, used to fish winter steelhead, spring chinook, summer steelhead and fall chinook with my dad as a kid with his driftboat, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why most of your wild stock is gone, it’s called the dams on the Columbia! So glad my mom and I moved to Alaska when I was 15! We still have the healthiest fishery on earth, mostly wild fish except for Prince William Sound hatcheries and some in Southeast Alaska. No place even compares to Alaskan fishing, wilderness, wildlife, lifestyle, simple!😉
I wonder what spawner surveys are showing Fall 2024 on the Klaskanine. Three year fish from that out planting of adults. 2024 south Puget Sound chum runs are off the charts.
I can't believe that the most important reason for slow recovery (seals, sealions, cormorants, and other predators) that are increasing exponentially due to total protection without any harvest season by stupid people was not even MENTIONED.
My understanding is that Pacific salmon die after breeding, yet Atlantic salmon return to the ocean. I assume introduction of Atlantic salmon into the Columbia River Basin has been considered. Also, one common shore bird is known to eat 25% of its body weight in young salmon every day.
@@jimsomerville3924 I always worry that introducing a new species may bring unknown issues that were never considered. But when the numbers of native species is steadily dropping, or disease resistance of native species seems to be failing, then other options need to be considered. Glad I don't have to make those decisions, but I do enjoy hearing discussions about options. For example, their fresh water cousin, rainbow trout, have a genetic weakness and develop "whirling disease", but the political pressure to breed and stock the rivers with rainbow trout fry is too strong for the fishery departments to ignore. Most other trout species, including Brook trout and Brown trout, are resistant. So, Jim, I agree with your observation.
The fish raised in net pens are Atlantic salmon. WA and B.C. Now in raised in fewer numbers. Several times pens have failed, and large numbers of several pound fish have been released. There’s been great hue and cry, with stated concern that they would establish runs and outcompete the native fish. I personally think this is most disingenuous. Fisheries professionals know that both the British Columbian and Canadian government fisheries departments carried out numerous efforts to establish Atlantic salmon runs on the B.C. coast several decades ago. Multiple river systems. Multiple strategies. If you can think it up, it was tried. The eventually raised large numbers to quite large size. I don’t remember which systems. Hundreds of thousands of greater than one pound fish. Maybe if the release was just big enough. That monster program actually resulted in a couple redds that were felt to be productive. No fish returned to produce another generation after that. By now no agency would try this again. Besides it’s been proven not to work. A side note. The Canadian fishery agency carried out similar, smaller effort, attempting to create an Atlantic lobster population on the B.C. coast. No released lobster was ever seen again. Yes, this was prior to re-introduction of sea otters. I like lobster. Want Atlantic salmon, hit your local Costco.
OMG I'm an avid fisherman in Washington and had no clue about this. I really really hope we can get more people to see this video.
Thanks for all your hard work and dedication on this project! I hope this video inspires others to join the cause. Excellent job Derek!
Great work! This work will pay off and go a long way towards recreating healthy habits. All those involved should be proud of their efforts.
Good video should make more like this one on other species in Oregon or locations
Great video! Good overview of the history of the chum salmon fishery, natural history of the fish itself, and the reintroduction efforts. Hats off to ODFW and those working on this project; it's amazing work. Sadly, I wonder how far reintroduction will be able to go when so much of the problem lies in the dams that block access to so much of the historical range. I do hope recovery efforts progress on that front as well.
-cheers from a fellow Oregon ecologist
Just saying, Anyone who has eaten chum salmon knows they taste terrible compared to the other four species! We in Alaska call them dog salmon because the sled dog owners feed it to their dogs!😳😳😳
@@troyottosen8722 I don't know if you meant to reply to me specifically because my comment had nothing to do with how salmon taste, but yes, I know that chum salmon are generally considered "undesirable". It doesn't change the fact that they were overfished in the past and that they're an incredibly important food source for numerous other species. They deserve protection, even if humans don't think they taste good :)
@@seisage , what state you live in? Afraid to say? I live here in Alaska, a fishing place uncompared! Chum salmon has nothing compared to the other four species of Pacific salmon! My point is the dams on the Columbia have ruined the wild stock habitat, fishery of salmon along the Columbia and snake river! If you lived in that area you would know it! You live in Oregon, Washington? Watch what you say! Wanna look stupid? Or your simply young and ignorant!😳🤪🤣
@@seisage , Protection from what????????😳🤪🤪🤪
Dang this is eye opening. You guys are doing great stuff on this channel
This is a great video showing some of the recovery efforts ODFW is undergoing for the reintroduction and preservation of just one of the many different species of anadromous fish in the Columbia River Basin. I would like to bring viewer’s attention to the hydro-electrical dam at 1:05 in the video. This is Hells Canyon Dam, one of three dams in the mid Snake River. Here is where all anadromous fish runs stop, as there are no fish ladders for bypass on any of these dams privately owned by Idaho Power. These three dams in the 90’s was estimated to only supply 3 percent of the nation’s power supply. This is important as you can see at 5:49 in the video, the amount of historical range blocked by these three dams. Eastern Oregon and Southwest Idaho produced millions of anadromous fish in water sheds known as Pine Creek, Burnt River, Powder River, and the Malheur River system in Oregon. In Idaho the lack of fish bypass at the Hells Canyon Complex keeps anadromous fish from returning to the Boise River, Payette River, Weiser River and a multitude of other tributaries which were massive producers of anadromous fish. Let us not forget the main stem of the Snake River one of the largest producers of spring and fall Chinook in the Columbia Basin. As you can see and interpret from the video restoring critical habitat is essential for the preservation, protection, and rebuilding of these essential fish runs. There are a multitude of issues associated with the Hells Canyon Complex. Relicensing, water pollution, and many others can be found with a favorite internet browser search, but something that has never been on the table is fish by-pass at these facilities. To the best of my recollection and to the viewers you are reading this comment if I don’t have correct I apologize, but I believe the State of Oregon supported by ODFW took 20 million from Idaho Power to not discuss fish passage on these dams for the next 20 years. The Salmon and Steelhead runs under Hells Canyon Dam will not be around 20 years from now. Idaho passed legislation in 2017 making it illegal to re-introduce anadromous fish above the Hells Canyon Complex. This information can be found in House Joint Memorial No.2 by resource and conservation committee. House Bill 169. As an Oregon avid steelhead and salmon sportsman I find this appalling. If habitat is so critical to the survival of salmon and steelhead, which I remind you are listed in the Federal Registry as Threatened and Endangered why are we not serious about habitat blocked by the Hells Canyon Complex. If you fish for these species I am sure you have heard or read the arguments on the removal of the lower four Snake River dams to help main stem Chinook salmon recovery efforts. I simply ask that viewers of this video also look at the historical range of anadromous fish runs above the Hells Canyon Complex and make their own determination on whether or not a private company should be allowed to control a public resource. Maybe a better bang for out buck as avid salmon and steelhead pursuers are to make our elected officials deal with this loss of critical habitat
Very good points. This dam, and the dam(s) cutting off access to BC on the Columbia are appalling that were ever constructed, and shocking if reinforced through policy to this day as you mention in your comment.
@@jimsomerville3924 You are absolutely correct, did you know above Grand Coulee dam, there was a run of salmon know as the June hog. Fish weighed in at over 80lbs. Huge upper river fish, gone for ever. If we continue to look at the magnitude of lost habitat it becomes very depressing.
Very interesting, keep up the good work!
I was born in Oregon, used to fish winter steelhead, spring chinook, summer steelhead and fall chinook with my dad as a kid with his driftboat, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why most of your wild stock is gone, it’s called the dams on the Columbia! So glad my mom and I moved to Alaska when I was 15! We still have the healthiest fishery on earth, mostly wild fish except for Prince William Sound hatcheries and some in Southeast Alaska. No place even compares to Alaskan fishing, wilderness, wildlife, lifestyle, simple!😉
WOW all I can say is Thank You!!!!!
This is a great video! I would love to see more videos like this. Especially one's concerning coho south of the North Fork Nehalem.
Very great informational
Good work 👍
Pretty sure the nestucca is starting to get a chum run, I’ve been seeing more and more caught around there this year especially
I wonder what spawner surveys are showing Fall 2024 on the Klaskanine. Three year fish from that out planting of adults. 2024 south Puget Sound chum runs are off the charts.
Please put some in scappoose creek, the bay will support them and there is no hatchery.
The video said they tried, but not productive.
The markings of the fish in the thumbnail looks like a red dead redemption logo
Big salmon..... Amazing...
can you eat chum salmon from the columbia anyone?
I can't believe that the most important reason for slow recovery (seals, sealions, cormorants, and other predators) that are increasing exponentially due to total protection without any harvest season by stupid people was not even MENTIONED.
But open a season on seals and sea lions already, and help all the salmonids recover.
It’s legal to haze them now if they are a threat to your catch at least. But I definitely agree
My understanding is that Pacific salmon die after breeding, yet Atlantic salmon return to the ocean. I assume introduction of Atlantic salmon into the Columbia River Basin has been considered. Also, one common shore bird is known to eat 25% of its body weight in young salmon every day.
I think their intent is to restore native populations to the extent feasible, not to introduce non-native species.
@@jimsomerville3924 I always worry that introducing a new species may bring unknown issues that were never considered. But when the numbers of native species is steadily dropping, or disease resistance of native species seems to be failing, then other options need to be considered. Glad I don't have to make those decisions, but I do enjoy hearing discussions about options. For example, their fresh water cousin, rainbow trout, have a genetic weakness and develop "whirling disease", but the political pressure to breed and stock the rivers with rainbow trout fry is too strong for the fishery departments to ignore. Most other trout species, including Brook trout and Brown trout, are resistant. So, Jim, I agree with your observation.
The fish raised in net pens are Atlantic salmon. WA and B.C. Now in raised in fewer numbers. Several times pens have failed, and large numbers of several pound fish have been released. There’s been great hue and cry, with stated concern that they would establish runs and outcompete the native fish. I personally think this is most disingenuous. Fisheries professionals know that both the British Columbian and Canadian government fisheries departments carried out numerous efforts to establish Atlantic salmon runs on the B.C. coast several decades ago. Multiple river systems. Multiple strategies. If you can think it up, it was tried. The eventually raised large numbers to quite large size. I don’t remember which systems. Hundreds of thousands of greater than one pound fish. Maybe if the release was just big enough. That monster program actually resulted in a couple redds that were felt to be productive. No fish returned to produce another generation after that. By now no agency would try this again. Besides it’s been proven not to work.
A side note. The Canadian fishery agency carried out similar, smaller effort, attempting to create an Atlantic lobster population on the B.C. coast. No released lobster was ever seen again. Yes, this was prior to re-introduction of sea otters. I like lobster.
Want Atlantic salmon, hit your local Costco.
Don't waste our money trying to bring back chum salmon. They'll just be wiped out by seals and tribal gill nets.
The ODWF is a conflict of interest department. Close Steelhead Now!!!
And stop gill netting the river too.