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+--- Thread: ODFW looking for winter steelhead sponsors (/showthread.php?tid=291733)
ODFW looking for winter steelhead sponsors - FishNews - 11-30-2006
ROSEBURG - People can help with fish research by sponsoring a winter steelhead in the Coquille River system. This is the third year of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife project that tracks winter steelhead movement in the basin.
"We are again looking for people who want to sponsor a steelhead, especially a wild one," said Shannon Osbon, Assistant District Fish Biologist in Charleston. "Both wild and hatchery fish are captured in the Coquille River downstream of the Arago boat ramp and radio tagged. The sponsor names the fish, and biologists track its movements and send progress reports to the sponsor."
Radio-tracking winter steelhead helps chart movement of hatchery fish in comparison with wild fish. Winter steelhead biological and physical data is collected, along with documentation of wild fish spawning habitat and the number of hatchery fish on these spawning beds. Creel and spawning surveys also aid in determining steelhead population levels in the Coquille River basin.
"We have had great fun the last couple of years with the sponsorship part of this program and look forward to getting more interesting fish names and talking to Oregonians about the project," Osbon said.
The public's cost to sponsor a tag is $190, and Osbon's goal is to tag 50 to 100 fish.
The project is funded by ODFW and a grant received in 2005 from the Restoration and Enhancement board. A grant from the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation will cover most of the tags designated towards hatchery fish.
ODFW reminds anglers it is illegal to harvest a radio-tagged fish in southern Oregon. Signs to assist anglers with identification of radio-tagged fish will be posted at popular fishing sites along the Coquille River.
Groups or individuals who want to sponsor a fish should contact Osbon at the ODFW Charleston Field Office, 541-888-5515.