Canada: How changing catch-and-release fishing practices can boost salmon survival

VANCOUVER — A study has found catch-and-release sportfishing practices that leave salmon with injuries, particularly to their eyes, cause higher mortality than earlier research suggested. Scott Hinch, who led the study by researchers at the University of British Columbia, said mortality among chinook salmon could be as high as 40 per cent, depending on environmental conditions and injuries sustained during capture and release. At the same time, the years-long research that was supported by the Sport Fishing Institute of B.C. found that a series of changes in anglers' practices could boost salmon survival. Hinch said these may be as simple as using smaller hooks, avoiding using nets to land fish and handling fish as little as possible. "You can make those decisions as an angler, you know, make sure that when you are releasing, you're doing it the best way possible," said Hinch, associate dean and professor in the university's department of forest and conservation science. "I'm not ...