The Elwha River in Washington is now free-flowing after the Elwha Dam was removed allowing scientists to determine that previously trapped rainbow trout are the same genetically as steelhead . sarah wilkie photo removal ,” said Alexandria Fraik , a doctoral student at Washington State University .
Fraik did the work as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Internship Program Fellow at NOAA ’ s Northwest Fisheries Science Center , with research scientists Drs . Krista Nichols and George Pess .
“ Additionally , we see recolonization of steelhead that appear to descend from populations that were both below and behind the Elwha River dams rapidly following dam removal .”
The steelhead , and subsequent rainbow trout above the dam , revealed that the genetic make-up of the fish varied only by the “ propensity to migrate to sea and the timing of adult migrations ” with the migration being influenced by inheritance and environment . Meaning that anadromous fish ’ s migration is timed by the environment and the genetic makeup telling them when it is time to go to sea and when it is time to return to the river .
Halibut Season ’ s Set For Washington Waters
The WDFW recently announced the halibut season to start April 22 which is very early for the big flat sided fish . Due to Covid , Gov . Jay Inslee shut down all recreational fishing just as halibut season was to get underway last year . This meant a unique opportunity to fish for halibut later in the summer and into fall when fishing was allowed . This spring expect to go back to the earlier fisheries when the halibut are closer to near shore and
www . salmonandsteelheadjournal . com 15