If so, the clearly clipped hatchery fish can be harvested (hatchery fish have their adipose fin removed when they’re juveniles), and the wild fish released without harm. Their plan was to conduct a post-release survival study to evaluate catchment, mortality, and operations to ultimately determine if responsibly used pound nets might act as an alternative to commercial gear and harvest techniques. In the case of the WFC study, the focus was “efficient hatchery harvest and significant reductions in by-catch mortality.” It was anticipated that retained fish would meet quality standards, and by-catch be released unharmed. This means targeted fish can be taken, while by-catch can be released without ever even leaving the water. Here they receive little to no air exposure, human handling, or over-crowding - factors known to elevate plasma lactate and cortisol concentrations in fish. Whereas most commercial fishing practices entangle fish in their teeth or gills, which often results in injury or death, pound nets simply house the fish, where they swim freely until ready for harvest. Pound nets emit zero carbon, require little maintenance, and are more gentle on the fish. The inner cage holds small bait effectively and allows baitfish to be lured into the trap. The trap has 4 x 1.25 openings and is built for both freshwater and saltwater. The mesh is corrosion-resistant and tested to last many years of repeated use. The trap’s efficiency was all too much at a time when few, if any, regulations were in place.Īll odds seemed to be in favour of the revival. The Frabill Minnow Trap is made out of heavy-duty vinyl dipped steel. From there, an accumulation of political pressure, poor fishing, and disastrous storms resulted in the industry going under by the early 1950’s. As gill-netters dug their heels into the issue, Washington State banned pound net operations in 1934. Gill-netters saw the traps as a way for canneries to reap the reward with minimal labour costs, and the public was outraged by rapidly declining fish numbers. But the impressive success of the traps eventually became the downfall of the industry. Fish were left in the water without over-handling, entanglement, or air exposure - meaning their quality was topnotch. Traps in Puget Sound and Alaska were some of the biggest producers, with a single trap able to capture up to 1.2 million salmon in a season. ![]() For over a century, they proved to be incredibly successful trapping fish in abundance - perhaps too successful. In the Pacific Northwest, pound nets were first used on the Columbia River. The method was introduced to Great Lake fisheries in the late 1830’s, and by the 1850’s it was popular across the country.
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