Data Alter Outlook On Coho Puget Sound Salmon May Escape `Endangered’ List

Wild Puget Sound coho salmon, which appeared headed for the endangered-species list a few months ago, now may dodge that dubious distinction.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is reviewing all wild coho in Washington, Oregon and California to determine which populations warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.

An announcement is expected in the next few weeks.

Merritt Tuttle, senior policy analyst with the agency, said federal scientists “originally were inclined toward listing (Puget Sound coho), but they’ve gotten a lot of new data.”

The new information has come since October from Washington state and tribal fisheries officials, who oppose listing.

They agree many Puget Sound coho stocks are in trouble but question both the scientific justification for listing and its benefits for the fish.

Environmentalists disagree. “Our best information is that some Puget Sound stocks warrant listing,” said David Bayles of the Pacific Rivers Council.

Wild coho spawn in every major river system and many smaller streams flowing into Puget Sound.

Listing could have widespread implications, including:

Further limitations on commercial, sport and tribal fishing, already severely restricted.

Scaled-back production of hatchery coho, which interbreed and compete with wild fish.

Possible federal intervention to protect streams in which the coho spend their first year.

Snake River sockeye and chinook are the only Northwest salmon now protected by the Endangered Species Act.

Tribal and state officials say their data appear to have prompted NMFS to reconsider listing Puget Sound coho. But they say they still aren’t certain what the agency will propose.

“They are right on the knife edge with Puget Sound,” said Bruce Crawford, assistant director of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

An announcement was originally scheduled for late October but has been postponed repeatedly.

Will Stelle, the agency’s regional director, said in December that NMFS probably will propose listing some wild West Coast coho populations but didn’t say which ones. Any proposed listings will be studied and reviewed for another year before taking effect.

Coho numbers have dropped 90 percent coastwide in the last century. The Pacific Fishery Management Council imposed a virtual ban on ocean salmon fishing last year, primarily to protect dwindling coho populations.

But even environmentalists, who petitioned NMFS more than a year ago to list all wild coho from central California to Canada, acknowledge the decision to list is a closer call in Washington than in Oregon or California.