FORKS (July 1, 2003) — In an effort to preserve groundfish species such as blackcod and yellowtail rockfish for sustained harvest off the Olympic coast, treaty tribes and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) are working together to fill significant data gaps on groundfish populations.
The tribes and WDFW recently hired a scientific technician to improve knowledge of what species are caught where and their age and distribution. Brandon Byrant samples and identifies species of fish landed by Indian and non-Indian fishermen at Neah Bay and La Push. In Neah Bay he also goes out with tribal fishermen to monitor catches and log harvests of fish.
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