ODFW News: Sulfite Cures and Wild Coho Harvest

ODFW’s Fish and Wildlife Commission approved voluntary guidelines for egg cure manufacturers to reduce or eliminate the use of sodium sulfites in bait cures used for salmon eggs.

eggcurepost

Beginning Oct. 1, all new production of cured eggs and eggs cured with commercially available cures should not have more than 12 grams of sodium sulfite per kilogram of cured eggs, a risk level considered acceptable by fishery managers.

A peer-reviewed study by ODFW and Oregon State University found that some commercially available egg cures killed juvenile chinook and steelhead when the fish consumed the eggs. The problem was linked to sodium sulfite, an ingredient that is used to inhibit mold growth. When ODFW tested cured eggs, it found levels of 15 to 50 grams of sodium sulfite per kg of eggs.

Read the back story here.

ODFW got the go-ahead from NOAA to harvest Endangered Species Act listed Oregon Coho Salmon: For the third year in a row, predicted coho salmon returns are high enough to open some rivers and lakes to the harvest of wild fish. In 2011 these include the Nehalem, Tillamook Bay, Nestucca, Siletz, Yaquina, Alsea, Siuslaw, Umpqua, Coos, and Coquille rivers and Tenmile Lakes. Established wild coho fisheries will continue in Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes.

“We may not be exactly where we want to be in removing the coastal coho from the threatened and endangered species list,” ODFW biologist Mike Gray said. “But the fact that we can now fish for wild coho means many local populations have made a significant comeback.”

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3 Responses to ODFW News: Sulfite Cures and Wild Coho Harvest

  1. Erik Stowell says:

    How about banning all bait in waters with wild fish that have to be released, particularly those that are threatened or endangered?

  2. Snoopy Rodder says:

    It is always surprising to discover who supports the use of bait where wild fish have to be released!

    ” August 6, 2010 Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife Commision Meeting: Joe Pishioneri, Springfield City Councilor, Springfield, OR submitted written testimony opposing regulation changes, banning the use of bait in a five-mile stretch of the McKenzie River that includes Hendricks Park area. Mr Pishioneri also stated, He is a board member of the McKenzie Watershed Council and executive director of Travel Lane County Board; both oppose the proposal.”

    Here all this time I thought the McKenzie Watershed Council was neutral??

    snoopy,

  3. married to flystud says:

    just happy that pink crap isn’t in my fridge anymore!

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