Hunting
Scoter bag limit reduced: SeaDoc science gets results
A new bag limit on scoters and certain other ducks is a result of SeaDoc research conducted several years ago.
From 1980 to 2005, the population of scoters in Puget Sound declined by 50%.
In 2006, SeaDoc funded a detailed analysis of hunting mortality on scoter populations in Washington State.
This study showed that although overall scoter harvest rates in Puget Sound were within sustainable levels, harvest levels in several Washington counties were at levels thought to be not sustainable.
At that time, the Department of Fish and Wildlife embarked upon additional banding and monitoring of scoters over a three-year period.
In August of 2010, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a new daily bag limit of 2 per day for scoters, long-tailed ducks and goldeneyes. (The prior limit was 4 per day for scoters and long-tail ducks, and 7 per day for goldeneyes.)
These are all long-lived species that depend on high adult survival. While hunting might not be identified as the reason for declines in species such as scoters, the fact that populations have declined so precipitously is cause for concern as hunting mortality can be additive or even synergistic with other factors causing declines.
SeaDoc chief scientist Joe Gaydos notes that "The Department of Fish and Wildlife has done an outstanding job of monitoring Puget Sound sea duck populations since 1993. Don Kraege and the biologists at WDFW should be recognized for the outstanding job they have done. Every effort has been made to retain hunting opportunities for the public while using the best available science to determine when hunting pressure could be negatively impacting the long-term sustainability of populations and when bag limits should be reduced."
The current reduction in scoter, long-tailed duck and goldeneye daily bag limits is a scientifically grounded decision that supports the long-term sustainability of these populations.
Read a summary of the original study.
Photo by Len Blumin
Surf Scoter Declines
Hunting May be Responsible for Scoter Declines
The Salish Sea is home to some of North America’s most amazing bird life including one of the world’s largest wintering populations of scoters.
Unfortunately in Puget Sound scoters have declined by over 50% in the last 25 years representing the largest loss of marine bird biomass in Puget Sound. Scientists are trying to learn why scoters are declining precipitously and there is concern that among other problems, hunting could be impacting scoter populations.
A SeaDoc Society-funded study evaluating the impact of hunting on scoter populations found that wintering scoters have high site fidelity and that in four counties (Island, Mason, Skagit and Thurston) scoter harvest levels exceed what is believed to be sustainable. This means that hunting could definitely be impacting the long-term health of these birds in these counties.
These findings were presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission last fall and the state is now evaluating what the hunting impact is on the state level and if harvest regulations need to be changed.
Private donations from citizens like you enable the SeaDoc Society to gather and share the information needed to protect and restore the marine fish and wildlife and Salish Sea ecosystem.
Find the PDF version here.
Surf Scoter Declines
Hunting May be Responsible for Scoter Declines. The Salish Sea is home to some of North America’s most amazing bird life including one of the world’s largest wintering populations of scoters. Unfortunately in Puget Sound scoters have declined by over 50% in the last 25 years representing the largest loss of marine bird biomass in Puget Sound.
