April 3, 2026 — After nearly a century off the water, fish traps are back on the Columbia River – this time as part of a closely watched experiment that could reshape how salmon are harvested in the Pacific Northwest.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, Washington and Oregon authorized three commercial fish traps in 2025, marking the first time the gear has been used commercially on the river in almost 100 years. The goal: determine whether traps can compete economically with gillnets while reducing impact on threatened salmon stocks.