EVALUATION OF TRAWL SAMPLING FOR THREATENED EULACHON (THALEICHTHYS PACIFICUS) IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER DURING JANUARY–MARCH 2013

Abstract

The population of Eulachon (Thaleicthys pacificus) spawning in the Columbia River and its tributaries is thought to be the largest in the world. Eulachon historically supported indigenous, commercial, and sport harvests, but were listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in 2010. This study tested the use of a small research trawl and 38-kHz echosounder to provide new, fishery-independent data for Columbia River Eulachon. During January–March 2013, we used a semi-balloon shrimp trawl and an uncalibrated 38-kHz downward-looking echosounder to sample estuarine and tidal freshwater habitats. Eulachon were present in the estuary on every sampling day. Direct mortality in the trawl was very low (<0.1%). We observed sex ratios closer to 1:1 than previously reported for the Columbia River, and trawl-caught Eulachon were longer and heavier than Eulachon caught with the same gear in the same season during 1980–1981. The largest catches occurred after 11 February 2013, when midwater estuary temperature warmed and remained above 5.5°C. Tributary spawning began in mid-March after estuary warming and continued for at least 2 wk. Observations suggested that Eulachon occurred in low densities and remained dispersed in deeper waters of the estuary for at least 2 mo before upstream migration. The estuary may therefore serve as an important staging area prior to upstream migration and subsequent spawning. Catch data and qualitative acoustic images suggest that a combination of trawl and acoustic surveys could provide direct estimates of adult biomass. If Eulachon populations are to recover from the threat of extinction, additional data will be needed to resolve uncertainties regarding spawner condition, adult spawning-stock biomass, and variation in run timing relative to river and estuary conditions. We recommend implementation of systematic surveys for adult Eulachon in the Columbia River to further understand how environmental factors drive variation in run size and run timing for this species.