***PLEASE SEE ATTACHED COMBINED SYNOPSIS FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS***

The NWFSC has been studying Pacific salmon marine ecology during their critical first summer in marine waters since 1998 with the Juvenile Salmon & Ocean Ecosystem Survey (JSOES). The purpose of this study is to sample within the Columbia River Estuary to capture Chinook salmon smolts.

Specific Objectives:

1. Obtain fish for genetic stock, growth, and age sampling.
2. Obtain fish in a condition suitable for tagging.

Fishing trips consisting of at least six boat-days will occur between April 20, 2020 and June 10, 2020. There will be an option for additional fishing trips consisting of up to 10 boat-days for the period of September 2020 to September 2021 if funds are available. Fishing will occur during and outside of the normal fishing season for salmon. Fishing trips will occur in the estuary of the Columbia River.

The vessel and crew will use purse seine fishing methods and gear. The vessel will provide the purse seine net, fuel, and a fish live well.

Biologists will record species id, length and weight data for each fish collected. All fish will be retained after capture, unless the fish is tagged and released.

There will be one biologist on board to record data and sample fish. The fishermen on board the charter will be made up of experienced fishermen invited by the charter boat captains or NWFSC personnel.