Hey Guys-- just had a good conversation with the hatchery manager that left me very impressed with thier program. First-- the sale of surplus coho IS under the authorization of a DFO "ESSR" permit. It allows them to sell surplus fish to augment thier budget of $130K per year. Most of the funding comes from the community-- in recent years the small DFO contribution has been cut so that they have no choice to to use all methods at thier means to raise operational funds. The money allows them to culture 1.5 million fish-- coho, chum, chinook, cutthroat and steelhead. (Not sure if they are doing pinks this year)
This fall they had a very good early coho run early into Chapman Creek. They are holding 110 fish for early broodstock. Some were sold ... but most went up the creek and anglers have been fishing for them since they hit the creek. There will be no more coho sales until the next big bump of fish enters thier trap and they have captured a portion of the middle timing run. Likewise on the late fish. They dont chase the fish in the creek-- they are swim-ins into the hatchery. Chapman Creek is very limited in natural spawning and rearing area.. its only accessible to salmon for 3 miles. Putting more fish up the river will not make more fish-- especially since the creek is one of the major community water supplies in the area. During the summmer, its down to a trickle..... hence the need for a hatchery.
The hatchery manager has suggested that if anyone has further questions about thier program , to drop in for a tour. Its thier busy season, so dont expect too much in the way of returned emails And they always are looking for area volunteers (or rich doners too!!!)
What they are doing with the fish sales is different from a lot of the other volunteer habitat and enhancement programs. But is is a common thing for the larger DFO hatcheries to deal with surplus returns to the hatchery in this manner. Nice to see a bunch of volunteers working the system to the advantage of the resource.
20ft Alumaweld Intruder
