WDFW Mandates Release of Tagged Salmon

Olympia, WA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting a fish-marking on chinook salmon and the Yakama Nation is marking sockeye salmon to study survival and migration patterns within the Columbia River system. Radio, temperature and acoustic tags will be attached to adult chinook and sockeye, which will be identified by a colored external floy (anchor) tag located near the dorsal fin. The success of these studies is dependent upon the angler’s ability to recognize these tags and to release the fish back into the river as quickly as possible. 

Action: Release all chinook and sockeye with external floy (anchor) tags attached.

Effective dates: July 1 through Oct 15, 2011.

Species affected: Chinook and sockeye salmon.

Location: Mainstem Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam upstream to Hwy 17 Bridge in Bridgeport, including the Similkameen and Okanogan Rivers.