Task Force members visit Pt. Defiance net pen installation

April 2023

Task Force members visited the temporary smolt net pens at Pt. Defiance for the delivery of 50,000 smolts to the net pen. The project is a great example of how the community came together to make these net pens possible. A focus on education and research was key to getting the different groups on board. The SAMI school teachers and students are involved in managing the net pens, the Puyallup tribe donated 80,000 smolts this season and the WDFW will be following with another 50,000 fish shortly. These fish are wire coded, tagged and will assist in researching their migration and return. Sports fishing groups and local businesses are also involved in the project. The task force is considering possibilities to bring a similar project to the North Bay.

The Pt. Defiance event was a great opportunity to meet the people who led the effort to engage the community and get the program in place. We met with Art Taschel, the president of Puget Sound Anglers/Gig Harbor Chapter, Liz Minks the principal at SAMI and others engaged in the project. Many of them are excited about the work we are doing and have offered to help us move forward.