Watch: The Fish Trap Moves Forward

We’re proud to share this new video with you, a short film made in conjunction with North Fork Studios that highlights the incredible progress being made on the Columbia River Fish Trap Project.

Watch below:

2018 was a big year for the trap.

Our research in 2016 and 2017 showed the fish trap to be a highly selective and sustainable fishing method that would greatly benefit wild fish recovery. In 2018, we turned the focus of our research into testing the economic viability of the fish trap as a commercial fishing method.

Salmon harvested sustainably from the trap in 2018 were processed locally in Cathlamet, WA and sold in markets across the Pacific Northwest. The feedback we received was phenomenal, with processors, sellers, and consumers all commenting on the incredible quality and freshness of the product.

In 45 years of being in the industry, I’ve never seen a better way to catch fish for quality, gentleness on the fish, and sustainability.

Ben Cramer, Fish Buyer, J&B Sales

With wild salmon in dire straits, and Southern Resident killer whales starving, the need for alternative, selective, and sustainable gears like fish traps has never been more pressing.

We hope you enjoy the video, and don’t forget to watch our first short video on the fish trap if you haven’t seen it yet.

Main article photo by Austin Ferguson.