Tag: Washington Department Of Fish And Wildlife

Rain/Wind Probable Cause for Large Fish Kill in Gorst

GORST (May 25, 2006) — Gusty winds and associated rains Tuesday evening are believed to be the cause of a major fish kill at the Gorst Creek salmon rearing facility.

An estimated 1.6 million fall Chinook salmon fry were found dead at the Gorst Creek rearing ponds Wednesday morning, said Jay Zischke, Suquamish fisheries manager.

Quinault Indian Nation Cooperating On Research To Improve Razor Clam Knowledge

TAHOLAH (April 11, 2006) – Ocean waves pound the beach and wind-driven spray chills the fingers of Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) shellfish biologist Kelly Curtis and tribal technicians on a late winter day near Ocean Shores. The crew is out completing a winter razor clam survey as part of a five-year cooperative effort by QIN and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to improve estimates of natural razor clam mortality, a critical piece of information used in setting harvest rates.

Razor clams are important to QIN both culturally and economically. Culturally, razor clams have been a part of tribal diets and ceremonies for thousands of years. QIN is also the only Washington tribe that has a commercial razor clam enterprise; a small but vital supplement to tribal incomes. QIN and WDFW co-operatively manage the razor clam resource on off-reservation beaches within the nation’s traditional gathering areas.