Thanks to the vision of our tribal elders and ancestors, the support of our project partners, and the efforts of the tribal hatchery and fisheries habitat staff, coho salmon are in the midst of a strong recovery. The fishing moratorium on the Elwha River has helped native salmon and steelhead to begin to repopulate habitats unavailable for over 100 years. While the “full” recovery of this system and its salmon and steelhead populations is expected to require over 20 years, we are seeing very positive signals of recovery with steelhead, Chinook, coho salmon, and pink salmon.
A large portion of the coho salmon population are now spawning naturally, and the expected returns this season have given us an opportunity for a modest C&S fishery. Our Washington State co-managers have been very supportive of the Tribe having the first opportunity to fish and we hope to see even greater opportunities in this fishery in the years to come.
- To participate in this fishery you MUST come to the Fisheries Office to register with Charlene Lauderback and get your subsistence card, which is specific to this Elwha River fishery.
- The fishery will start AFTER the brief Ceremony that starts at 9:00 am at the Hatchery outlet on Monday, October 9th.