Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Bartlett River Recreational Fishing Survey and Bear Education Campaign 1996-97 Seasons

Soiseth, Chad; Adamson, Liz

An unknown number of fish are taken from the Bartlett River in Glacier Bay National Park each year. Because of it's proximity to Park headquarters and Glacier Bay Lodge facilities at Bartlett Cove this system is relatively accessible and frequently visited. Much of the visitation to this area is associated with sport fishing activities and recreational harvest of salmonid fishes. Sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka), pink (O. gorbuscha), chum (O. keta) and coho (O. kisutch) salmon as well as cutthroat (O. clarki) and steelhead trout (O. mykiss) and Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) are harvested from this system. Anglers generally frequent the Bartlett River form May through September or mid October. The most sought after and heavily targeted species is coho salmon. The majority of sportfishing activity and presumeably harvest occurs during the coho salmon run from mid August to the end of October. We quantify and evaluate sportfishing activity and harvest effects on the Bartlett River ecosystem and salmonid fish populations during the coho salmon sun (August-October) in this study. Additionally, we conducted an education and information program designed to influence angler behavior and prevent bears from associating humans with food. A recreational fishing survey on the Bartlett River was performed during August-September, 1996, and September-October, 1997, with two main objectives: 1.) To investigate fishing pressure on the coho salmon run by determining the number of fish caught and harvested by recreational anglers, and to identify the primary fishing gear used in order to evaluate likely impacts on released fish, and, 2.) To educate anglers and other river visitors on appropriate behavior and etiquette when fishing or hiking in areas along the river with a high probability of bear encounters. The primary focus of the second objective is preventing bear and human conflicts and injuries. This was successfully accomplished by preventing bears from obtaining fish or other food from anglers and hikers and thereby associating humans and fishing activities with food. Residency of anglers (e.g. local or visitor) was determined in order to identify means for future educational efforts.