Adrian Tuohy

Fish Trap Journal

After Nearly 100 Years, Commercial Fish Traps Make Historic Comeback on the Columbia to Aid Wild Fish Recovery

Nearly a century ago, fish traps were banned in Washington State due to poor management that led to overharvest and the decline of wild salmon populations. Now, in a historic moment, fish traps will return to the Columbia River for the first time since 1934—this time as a tool to advance the protection and recovery of the basin’s threatened wild salmon and steelhead.

August 4, 2025 No Comments

Fish Trap Journal

Columbia River Fish Traps Return for the Recovery of Wild Fish and Fishing Economies

Making history this summer season, local fishers will operate fish traps (otherwise known as pound nets) on both shores of the lower Columbia River in

May 5, 2025 No Comments

Press Releases

New Research Shows Curtailing Chinook Salmon Ocean Fisheries Will Promote Southern Resident Orca & Wild Chinook Recovery

New research was published in the journal of Communications Earth & Environment sounds a grave warning for endangered Southern Resident killer whales and highlights the urgent conservation measures necessary to stem their pending extinction. While projecting rapid population collapse in roughly 40 years’ time from maintenance of the status-quo, the authors also shine light on the hopeful path forward to recovery.

April 5, 2024 No Comments

News & Announcements

Celebrating Mary Valentine

It is with great sadness that we must share the news about our dear friend and colleague Mary Valentine who passed away tragically last week.

January 31, 2024 No Comments

Fish Trap Journal

Peer-Reviewed Publication Confirms 100% Survival for Salmon Released from Columbia River Fish Traps

WFC published a third peer-reviewed paper in the international Journal of Fisheries Research confirming 100% survival for salmon release from passively operated fish traps.

October 7, 2022 No Comments

Fish Trap Journal

New Study Supports Findings of 100% Wild Salmon Survival from Fish Traps

A new bycatch survival study of passively operated fish traps was recently completed for spring-run and summer-run Chinook Salmon in the Columbia River. The results

April 21, 2022 1 Comment

Fish Trap Journal

New research shows an ancient fishing tool provides a new solution to salmon recovery

A groundbreaking new published paper by Wild Fish Conservancy demonstrated survival of salmon and steelhead released from an experimental fish trap on the Columbia River was far higher than rates for any previously tested commercial fishing gears on the Columbia River.

July 18, 2019 No Comments

After Nearly 100 Years, Commercial Fish Traps Make Historic Comeback on the Columbia to Aid Wild Fish Recovery

Columbia River Fish Traps Return for the Recovery of Wild Fish and Fishing Economies

New Research Shows Curtailing Chinook Salmon Ocean Fisheries Will Promote Southern Resident Orca & Wild Chinook Recovery

Celebrating Mary Valentine

Peer-Reviewed Publication Confirms 100% Survival for Salmon Released from Columbia River Fish Traps

New Study Supports Findings of 100% Wild Salmon Survival from Fish Traps

New research shows an ancient fishing tool provides a new solution to salmon recovery

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Latest Posts

Conservation Advocates Serve Notice of Intent to Sue Over Feds Continued Failure to Protect Wild Salmon, Steelhead, and Orcas from Harmful Columbia River Hatcheries

Our Debt to the River: The Scientific Case Against Industrial Salmon Hatcheries

Legal Settlement Reached for Endangered Species Act Decision Deadline for Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

Fish trap Journal

After Nearly 100 Years, Commercial Fish Traps Make Historic Comeback on the Columbia to Aid Wild Fish Recovery

Columbia River Fish Traps Return for the Recovery of Wild Fish and Fishing Economies

Peer-Reviewed Publication Confirms 100% Survival for Salmon Released from Columbia River Fish Traps

New Study Supports Findings of 100% Wild Salmon Survival from Fish Traps

Watch: New Short-Video of the Fish Trap Project in Oregon