Throughout the Pacific Northwest during the 1980s, a number of environmental concerns were brought to the forefront. Of particular significance and interest to CZES Division staff was the increased political, scientific, and social emphasis on fisheries enhancement. This enhancement encompasses mitigation for fisheries losses, as well as assessment of environmental effects. The increasing priority placed on these aquatic resources has resulted in conditions conducive to the attainment of CZES Division research goals. Included among these resources are salmon, steelhead, shad, smelt, sturgeon, oysters, clams, shrimps, crabs, and aquatic plants.
Every fishery is a complex of interactions among organisms, the environment, and social values.
The role of the CZES Division is to plan, carry out, and report on the research necessary to understand these interactions and to identify and solve problems within them. Within each of these categories, the projects discussed represent collaborative efforts between CZES scientists, technicians, and support personnel. In many cases, collaborations extended to other federal, state, and tribal agencies. Each project is summarized in this report, and a bibliography is presented. The objective is to present a survey of the research activities of CZES Division staff during the 1980s, and to identify pertinent reports and publications that will provide additional details where needed.