PR 83 05 BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FRIDAY, Oct. 14, 2005 Contact: Mike Hansen | , BPA (503)-230-5131     Pikeminnow program continues to save millions of migrating salmon PORTLAND, Ore - The Bonneville Power Administration said today that 240,955 northern pikeminnow had been caught this season, ranking this as one of the most successful years on record. This year's catch of pikeminow would have consumed millions of juvenile salmon migrating to the ocean. "Since the predator control program began in 1990, more than 2,618,000 pikeminnow have been caught, saving four to six million juvenile salmon each year," said John Skidmore, BPA pikeminnow program manager. "This year's catch accounts for nearly 20 percent of this indigenous predator population, exceeding the performance standard of 14 to 16 percent established by NOAA Fisheries in the 2004 biological opinion." The program, funded by BPA, cost about $3.7 million this year, with over $1.5 million being paid out in rewards. The northern pikeminnow season ended Sept. 26. The program was also given high marks in a study sponsored by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. The study, funded by BPA and conducted by economists Hans Radtke, Shannon Davis and Chris Carter, said the program is cost effective. Radtke, past chair of the commission, is a member of an eight-person panel appointed by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council to provide an economic perspective on salmon recovery programs and actions. The Northern Pikeminnow Management Program pays $5 to $8 for each of these salmon-eating predators delivered by fishers to stations along the Columbia and Snake rivers. The only limitations are that angling must occur in designated areas and each fish submitted must be at least nine inches long. The more fish anglers catch, the more they are worth. The first 100 bring $5 each. The next 300 are worth $6 each, and, after 400 are turned in, they're worth $8 each. Specially tagged pikeminnow are worth $500 each. Anglers have averaged several hundred dollars during a season; the top 25 have made from $5,000 to $35,000 fishing for pikeminnow. Submitted for distribution on 10-14-2005 at 10:31 AM

Bonneville Power Administration, 905 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232 Mailing Address: Media Relations - DM7, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208-3621 Phone: (503)230-5131 FAX: (503) 230-5884 Web Site: http://www.bpa.gov