|
VIII. Conclusion The expected impacts to listed Pacific salmonids from NMFS’ proposal to continue implementation of the existing ocean salmon FMP, are listed below: Available information indicates that it is highly unlikely that any Snake River sockeye salmon will be taken as a result of the PFMC fisheries. The Proposed Recovery Plan concluded that management constraints in ocean fisheries for the protection of listed sockeye salmon were unnecessary. No cumulative effects are anticipated as a result of the action considered here. The activities considered in this consultation will not result in the destruction or adverse modification of any of the essential features of the critical habitat. NMFS has determined, based on the available information, that the PFMC fisheries are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Snake River sockeye salmon or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. B. Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon may, on occasion, be caught in PFMC ocean salmon fisheries. However, the available information suggests that the overall ocean exploitation rate is less than 1 percent and that it is unlikely that the PFMC fisheries significantly impact Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon. No additional constraints to ocean fisheries for the protection of listed spring/summer chinook were included in the Proposed Recovery Plan. No cumulative effects are anticipated as a result of the action considered here. The activities considered in this consultation will not result in the destruction or adverse modification of any of the essential features of the critical habitat. NMFS has determined, based on the available information, that the PFMC fisheries are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. C. Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon Although this consultation considers directly only the proposed PFMC fisheries, significant improvements regarding survival and recovery will be achieved only through long term modification of all actions that affect listed fall chinook salmon. The Proposed Recovery Plan specifies levels of harvest for ocean and in-riverfisheries that are to be implemented through 1998 and then be reviewed and revised if necessary based on the best available information at that time. The NMFS considers that the combined impact of the fisheries as specified in the Proposed Recovery Plan, when taken in the broader context of the environmental baseline and measures taken that affect other life stages, is consistent with long term survival and recovery of the species (see section VI-G). The prospects for recovery are maximized by eliminating all sources of mortality. However, there are practical constraints to eliminating all human-induced mortality and appropriate considerations for what may be a reasonable allowance for mortality. NMFS has analyzed the available information on the biological requirements of listed Snake River salmon. This analysis included consideration of genetic risks, potential environmental fluctuations, life history characteristics, and other impacts to listed Snake River salmon. Based on this information, NMFS developed a management regime and adaptive review program that NMFS believes is consistent with the expectation for survival and recovery of the species. NMFS believes that a harvest management system for ocean fisheries, including those of the PFMC, that emphasizes weak stock recovery requirements is a necessary component of a comprehensive program designed to ensure the long-term survival and recovery of listed species. No cumulative effects are anticipated as a result of the action considered here. The activities considered in this consultation will not result in the destruction or adverse modification of any of the essential features of the critical habitat. Exploitation rates to listed fall chinook have been reduced substantially in recent years because of constraints related to coho and unlisted chinook stocks. For example, it was estimated that the base period exploitation rate in PFMC fisheries would be reduced by 65% in 1995 (NMFS 1995d). The estimates of exploitation rate reductions in ocean fisheries combined for 1995 ranged from 37% 46% (NMFS 1995e), which was sufficient to meet the second of three alternatives for evaluating ocean fisheries (i.e. 30% reduction in the exploitation rate relative to the 19881993 base period). NMFS, in an effort to maximize the efficiency of fishery management and the consultation process, is extending the scope and duration of its consultations where possible. To this end NMFS has here consulted on the framework FMP rather than the annual regulations implemented under the FMP as was done in recent years. Reductions in harvest in recent years have been sufficient to provide the necessary protection to listed fall chinook even though those restriction have resulted from management considerations for other species or stocks. However, NMFS hasdetermined, based on the available information, that the PFMC salmon fisheries managed under the FMP would not in all cases provide necessary protection for listed Snake River fall chinook by ensuring a reduced exploitation rate and therefore are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Snake River fall chinook salmon. Fisheries allowed under the FMP are not likely to result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. D. Sacramento River Winter-Run Chinook Salmon Although harvest was not identified as a factor causing the decline of the population upon listing, the incidental harvest of winter-run chinook salmon as evidenced by recent CWT recoveries represents a significant source of mortality to the endangered population. NMFS concludes that incidental harvest impacts contribute substantially to restraining the population at very low abundances and limiting population growth, such that the risks of extinction are high from environmental, demographic and genetic stochasticities. This is particularly evident upon examination of the population, which is composed of two weak year classes and one strong year class. If an extreme environmental event occurred resulting in severe losses to the one relatively strong year class, extinction would likely be imminent. Moreover, harvest on the weak year classes is contributing to the risk of depensatory and deleterious genetic effects, which may also undermine the population’s ability to recover. Thus, mortality originating from incidental harvest can reasonably be considered a significant impairment to recovery efforts, and therefore, incidental harvest impacts are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the winter-run chinook salmon. In addition, the FMP does not specifically require consideration of the winter-run chinook population when setting maximum fishing rates for a mixed-stock fishery. NMFS considers this an important deficiency in the FMP, which may result in inadequate consideration of protecting winter-run chinook salmon. Thus, based on an assessment of the effects of the proposed action, NMFS concludes that the continued implementation of the FMP, as constrained by the 1991 Winter-run Chinook Biological Opinion on Pacific Salmon Ocean Harvest, is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of winter-run chinook salmon. The FMP, however, is not likely to result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.
|
|
