State seeks help marking fish

OLYMPIA — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking help marking more than 110 million hatchery salmon and steelhead before being released into state waters.

The mass-marking program has played a vital role in salmon management since the mid-1990s, officials said.

Hatchery fish are marked by clipping their adipose fin while still in the fry stage, before being released.

This marking helps differentiate hatchery fish from wild fish, officials said.

“This work is essential to fishing throughout the state, and critical to salmon conservation efforts,” agency Hatchery Division Manager Eric Kinne said.

The work is performed several months in the spring and early summer each year at hatcheries, statewide, he said.

Work is often performed in shifts throughout the day and on weekends, so there are many opportunities to volunteer.

Anyone interested in volunteering at a WDFW hatchery can visit log onto https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/volunteer.

Much of the annual marking effort is done by hand in marking trailers, officials said.

“We have 11 million more fish to mark this year than last year, which is great news,” Kinne said. “If this work isn’t completed, it could have big impacts on fisheries in Washington.”