Tribal Government Departments
Fisheries
Page last updated:
July 4, 2023
11:44 am
visit

Philip Starr Administration Building 

39015-A 172nd AVE SE 

Auburn, WA 98092

Hours

Mon 8:00am - 5:00pm

Tue 8:00am - 5:00pm

Wed 8:00am - 5:00pm

Thu 8:00am - 5:00pm

Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm

Department Overview

Under Policy guidance from the Fish Commission, the Fisheries Division works toward protecting and enhancing the Tribe’s fisheries resources, their habitat, and access to those resources to satisfy the needs of tribal members and their future generations.

Services Provided

The information necessary to manage the Tribe’s Fisheries is generated by Fisheries Division staff and stem from the multitude of activities performed by our programs and projects. Our programs include:

  • Harvest Management Program: Fisher Services, Vessel Coordination, Salmon Management, Shellfish Management and Research
  • Fisheries Enforcement Program: Officers are commissioned to enforce the Tribe’s Fisheries Code and patrol the Tribe’s U&A to make sure regulations are followed and also to assist Muckleshoot fishers.
  • Fish Production Program: White River Hatchery, Keta Creek Complex, Fishing Derbies, Elliott Bay Net Pen Project.
  • Fisheries Habitat Program: Water Resources, Watershed and Land Use

Outlook for 2023

Highlights of 2022

Fisheries Commission and Fisheries Staff Special Report for 2022

2022 annual chum fishery was a huge success this year! This year’s successful chum run is the result of significant work by the Tribe going back many years. Tribal Council support for the vision of the Fish Commission implemented by Fisheries Department staff have all contributed to securing increased production goals that are contributing to the Tribe’s fisheries now, and will continue to support fishing for the next seven generations. The 2022 season marked a historical terminal chum run which supported both a record breaking tribal harvest and robust returns to Keta Hatchery. This massive run supported not only Muckleshoot fishers: many reports were made this fall of Southern Resident Killer Whales foraging on chum in Central Puget Sound.

This year’s impressive run is a direct result of the planning and construction for the modernization of the Keta Hatchery in 2015 and 2016. This effort enabled the hatchery to more than double egg incubation capacity, thereby dramatically increasing salmon production. Specific improvements included a water recirculation system to increase flows, a new spawning factory to handle thousands more fish, and 36 new circular tanks for feeding chum fry. This year’s run was the longest ever seen – it began on Halloween and lasted until December 10th. Keta Hatchery was able to handle over 30,000 chum and fertilized 8.1 million eggs, an incredible level of productivity that will help to ensure more big returns in the future.

Stanley Moses watching Muckleshoot Seafood Products (MSP)offload his catch.

The chum fishery in Elliott Bay started in mid-October and the river fishery started one week later. Early catches in Elliott Bay were strong and continued to improve in the second week as the river fishery opened and also experienced robust catches. Abundant catches in both the bay and river continued for the next several weeks leading up to a combined record harvest 81,661 chum from Elliott Bay and the Duwamish River. The previous record of 51,912 chum was set in 2010. The Elliott Bay catch alone totaled 29,746, which is double the previous record from 2010 of 14,143. The Duwamish River catch of 51,915 easily surpassed its previous record of 38,793 in 2007.

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