To see a summary of last year's sockeye salmon recreational catch and release study, please download this Power Point presentation:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/fishy_news/file/090625.pptThis is a multi-year study. The second one is scheduled to begin sometimes in the next two months. Volunteers will most likely be needed again, I will post up information when received.
Regardless whether you agree or disagree with the practice done in this fishery, studies such as this one is beneficial as it allows managers to make sound decisions based on quantitative information, rather than what we believe may happen.
This study somewhat presents a possible dilemma in the recreational fishery. It illustrates that external hook damage results in lower mortality due to minimal bleeding, while fish hooked properly (ie. inside the mouth, particularly on the tongue, back of the oral cavity) can sometimes result in much higher mortality due to servere bleeding.
Some cautionary notes of course. Scientific studies only partially represent what actually happens because there are many other variables involved. The fish were held in a channel that has a velocity similar to where they would travel in the Lower Fraser River, however the result from the study demonstrates short-term mortality because the fish were only held for a short period of time. How well sockeye salmon that are caught and released do beyond this period is unknown, especially once entering the Fraser Canyon when stream velocity increases significantly. Secondly, the predation factor has not been included. Fish that are released can be vulnerable to predation by seals for a short period of time. This may increase mortality rate of released fish. As the study becomes more in-depth, some of these variables will most likely be looked at.