Seining at Harrington
Lagoon Continues with Great Success:
Understanding estuaries and their role in salmon habitat
May 9, 2005
The Whidbey Island seining team sampled Harrington lagoon on April 20th and May 5th . The April 20th seine was the most challenging and productive to date with over 800 salmon fry caught, counted and released. Almost all were Chum salmonid that varied in size from 30-60 millimeters in length. More than 500 were gathered on one net setting just outside the lagoon. The team was challenged to work quickly and accurately to identify and count the fry while minimizing their capture time. The team asked NOAA's Anna Kagley about the absence of Chinook fry this time out. Anna speculated that they tend to be less tolerant of the warmer water temperatures inside the lagoon which had averaged 18-19 degrees centigrade that day.
Less than 100 fry were netted on May 5th but the team captured the first two Coho salmonid of the season, both just over 100mm. With Anna's help, the team learned the subtle identification differences between Chinook oncorhynchus tshawytscha and Coho o. kisutch, which mainly is in fin shape and coloration.
The next Whidbey seine is scheduled for Harrington at 2 p.m. on June 5th . Team members will receive initial Race Lagoon training and conduct a "mini seine" earlier that same day.
For more information about this project read Understanding estuaries and their role in salmon habitat.
Bob Buck
Beach Watcher Class of 2004
Estuary Project Page