A Unique Approach to Collaboration and Outreach: How a Zoo in Utah Is Helping Rockfish Off Oregon

Utah’s Hogle Zoo (UHZ) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) have partnered to create a program aimed at helping reduce bycatch discard mortality of two overfished rockfish species, Yelloweye Rockfish Sebastes ruberrimus and Canary Rockfish Sebastes pinniger. The two-part program consisted of distribution of complimentary recompression devices to Oregon marine recreational anglers along with an outreach campaign to educate anglers on the importance of rockfish recompression. Recompression devices release discarded rockfish back at depth, where survival rates are over 40% greater than those released at the surface. Post-program evaluation indicates recompression usage among anglers has doubled, with approximately 70% of fish being released using the devices – showing a promising solution to improving the conservation and recovery of these species. Furthermore, neighboring states have begun to adopt similar campaigns which reinforce interstate agency collaboration.  The poster presentation will discuss how two unlikely organizations can effectively collaborate to provide a unique approach to conservation and expand community outreach – ideally promoting the fishery professionals to consider pursing similar opportunities.