Whidbey Island 2006 Seining Season comes to an end
Understanding estuaries and their role in salmon habitat
The arrival of warm lagoon temperatures (14 degrees + centigrade) and the appearance of hundreds of Shiner Perch (Cymatogaster aggregate) signaled the end of the Whidbey seining season for 2006. No juvenile salmon were caught at either Race or Harrington lagoons on 17 May, our last (as it turned out) seining date of the year.
To summarize, we can characterize the 2006 season as "a very pink year." Pinks (Oncorynchus gorbuscha) were by far the dominant juvenile salmon species at both sites. Chum (Oncorynchus keta) came in a strong second with only a score of Chinook (Oncorynchus tsawytscha) recorded. Pacific staghorn sculpin (Leptocottus armatus) and Starry flounder (platichtys stellatus) were abundant. Notably absent last year was the appearance of surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosis) at both sites. In fact, the Race team netted over 750 surf smelt in one net setting in March.
Perhaps the most important accomplishment this season has been the accelerated learning curve for the Beach Watcher seining teams. Teams gained a second year of seining experience using NOAA protocols in net handling techniques, species identification and processing, water quality testing and data recording. NOAA's Kurt Fresh praised the team's "very high level of competence."
Beginning with the 2007 seining season, Whidbey seining teams will assume primary responsibility for field operations at Race and Harrington lagoons. The research will continue to be conducted under NOAA license and monitoring with all data being forwarded to them for interpretation/analysis. The teams are already looking forward to next season as they spend time this summer procuring the necessary equipment that will carry them through many more seasons.
For more information about this project read Understanding estuaries and their role in salmon habitat.
For more information about Island County estuaries go to the Class of 2004'sEstuary Project Page