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Northern Pikeminnow Projects

Due to the damming of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest, the river no longer flows freely and the environmental impact causes a dramatic increase in northern pikeminnow. That has led to a dramatic decrease in the salmon population, due to the northern pikeminnow preying on young salmon. The development of projects to curtail the northern pikeminnow population for the purpose of increasing salmon remains a high priority.

Sport Reward Fishery
- Conducted every year since 1990 from roughly May to October, this project involves paying fisherman for catching northern pikeminnow of at least 9 inches long, thus targeting the adult population. Prices range from $4 to $8 per fish, depending upon size, with special prizes for certain tagged fish. Fishermen have caught over 3.5 million fish in the program, with the fish being used for animal feed. The project does not seek to eliminate northern pikeminnow, only reduce its population to a manageable level. Based upon increases in the salmon population the program has accomplished its goals and continues in effect.
Tagging
- In order to have information on the effects of other projects involving northern pikeminnow, researchers place easily identifiable tags on the fish. The tagged fish, whether caught as part of the Sport Reward Fishery program or otherwise identified, assist in the monitoring of the species.
Monitoring
- Monitoring the northern pikeminnow population also involves the entire process of assessing the impact of the sport fishery project, other fishing which involves the northern pikeminnow and the increases in the salmon population. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the monitoring process includes other predator fish to determine what effect the removal of northern pikeminnow has to those species, which to date have been negligible.

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