Hatchery Fish a problem?

OldBlackDog

OldBlackDog

Well-Known Member
www.hatchmag.com

More evidence that releasing hatchery-reared native fish is harmful

The impacts of rearing and stocking non-native fish into watersheds where they don’t belong are well understood: undue competition for limited resources, hybridization, predation — the list goes on. In the American West, we’ve seen how introduced brook trout outcompete native cutthroat trout and...
www.hatchmag.com
 
OldBlackDog said:
www.hatchmag.com

More evidence that releasing hatchery-reared native fish is harmful

The impacts of rearing and stocking non-native fish into watersheds where they don’t belong are well understood: undue competition for limited resources, hybridization, predation — the list goes on. In the American West, we’ve seen how introduced brook trout outcompete native cutthroat trout and...
www.hatchmag.com
Click to expand...
“Akira Terui, a biology professor at the University of North Carolina was joined in the study by Hirokazu Urabe of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute; Masayuki Senzaki of Hakkaido University; and Bungo Nishizawa of the National Institute of Polar Research based in Tokyo.”

So, we have a university professor from North Carolina and another from Tokyo offering their opinion on Hatchery Fish.
There is a lot to be said pro and con re Chinook, Coho and Pink Salmon hatcheries in particular, but this study has little to offer.
 
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I dont doubt the credentials of these scientists. However, they seem to be far behind on some of the techniques that are used in BC and elsewhere in the PNW. Certainly the idea of overstocking the Pacific with hatchery fish is a constant subject of discussion, and it seems EVERYONE has an opinion on what is too much. What species of salmon "might" cause issues if an excess of hatchery fish arrives to spawn at the same time as native fish ? etc etc. But the old "hatchery fish are BAD" idea has too many counter examples to take this report as gospel. With climate change, population growth putting extreme stress on the worlds' water resources, destruction of habitat for thousand of critters that dont vote , we need to continue to take more time and effort to balance how we use our technology to achieve the best results. Hatchery management is not rocket science, but is evolving and we need to support that.
 
Wonder if this will result in limiting Salmon Ranching in the North Pacific?
 
Bryan Allen said:
I dont doubt the credentials of these scientists. However, they seem to be far behind on some of the techniques that are used in BC and elsewhere in the PNW. Certainly the idea of overstocking the Pacific with hatchery fish is a constant subject of discussion, and it seems EVERYONE has an opinion on what is too much. What species of salmon "might" cause issues if an excess of hatchery fish arrives to spawn at the same time as native fish ? etc etc. But the old "hatchery fish are BAD" idea has too many counter examples to take this report as gospel. With climate change, population growth putting extreme stress on the worlds' water resources, destruction of habitat for thousand of critters that dont vote , we need to continue to take more time and effort to balance how we use our technology to achieve the best results. Hatchery management is not rocket science, but is evolving and we need to support that.
Click to expand...
Excellent post Bryan. The fate of wild salmon is obvious to those without blinders on; hatchery salmon are the only solution in many systems and the best we can do is use, as you say, the best technologies available.
 
Bryan Allen said:
I dont doubt the credentials of these scientists. However, they seem to be far behind on some of the techniques that are used in BC and elsewhere in the PNW. Certainly the idea of overstocking the Pacific with hatchery fish is a constant subject of discussion, and it seems EVERYONE has an opinion on what is too much. What species of salmon "might" cause issues if an excess of hatchery fish arrives to spawn at the same time as native fish ? etc etc. But the old "hatchery fish are BAD" idea has too many counter examples to take this report as gospel. With climate change, population growth putting extreme stress on the worlds' water resources, destruction of habitat for thousand of critters that dont vote , we need to continue to take more time and effort to balance how we use our technology to achieve the best results. Hatchery management is not rocket science, but is evolving and we need to support that.
Click to expand...
Excellent post.
 
I think the general public likes simple black & white narratives - and the media always wants an easy 30 second sound bite. Nuances and shades of grey take more time and commitment to learn about a specific topic - meanwhile there is a fast train of numerous other World problems coming at the general public that distracts them from any 1 currently identified crises.

So, topics are covered superficially and those results from any targeted focused system (~10 million hatchery masu salmon enhancement) are extrapolated onto all possible applications into all systems and stock assistance programs across all watersheds and countries w/o those nuances.

As numerous posters have already mentioned - hatchery procedures (e.g. fertilization, feeding, release, numbers) along with numerous genetic methodologies (e.g. PNI, PBT) can help minimize these introgression & competition effects.

The authors did not specifically define what they meant by "intensive release of hatchery salmon", but instead claimed that the statistical effect was due to "competition between masu salmon and other salmonid species - interference or exploitative" along with the "reduced fitness of hatchery masu salmon" over "successive generations in captivity".

Furthermore, the authors state that the "number of releases is determined without accounting for the current condition of the recipient ecosystem. As such, released fish are probably “excessive” and may cause resource competition that would otherwise not exist."

I think that is the take-away confirmation for me - numbers verses numbers, hatchery verses wild aka PNI or Proportion Natural Influence in Canada and the USA - a hatchery technique not mentioned by these Japanese authors and possibly unknown to them:

Research Document 2018/019

Research Document 2018/019
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Science Advisory Report 2018/001

Science Advisory Report 2018/001
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Nor did they note any exceptions to their findings:


If the authors wished to be helpful in the fisheries management end of things - the question and focus of how successful PNI and other hatchery processes can be and at what level would be helpful to incorporate into hatchery procedures - along with an explicit acknowledgement & research into different hatchery practices, capacities, intensities, success and purposes.
 
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This stuff is always being looked at

SEP Planning and Assessment
• DFO hatcheries support various fisheries through large-scale for-harvest hatchery production.
• When changes to fisheries reduce or eliminate harvest, the associated hatchery production should
be scaled to support remaining harvest needs.
• If hatchery production is not adjusted, excess hatchery fish may return to spawning grounds or
hatchery facilities creating increased biological risk. This is inconsistent with the Wild Salmon Policy,
SEP guidelines, DFO fishery policy, and Science Branch advice.
• Potential adjustments to hatchery production are evaluated annually by SEP. However, fishing
regimes have historically been quite stable, so resulting production adjustments are usually minor.
• Recent closures and reductions to salmon fisheries to protect Stocks of Concern have significantly
reduced harvest coastwide, necessitating larger-scale adjustments to production.
Pitt River Sockeye
• Pitt River Hatchery Sockeye production was initiated in 1960 to address declining returns and to
research the feasibility of hatchery production.
• Pitt River Hatchery Sockeye are currently produced under a harvest objective.
• Production levels and catch of this stock peaked in the early 2000’s. Decreases to production
occurred incrementally from 2015 (2.5M smolts) to 2018 (500K smolts).
• In recent years, there has been limited ability to harvest this stock in mixed-stock fisheries due to
measures taken to protect co-migrating Early Stuart Sockeye. Harvest has also been negligible in
terminal areas due in part to lack of assessment tools.
• Wild Salmon Policy (WSP) Status of Pitt River Sockeye is Green or Not at Risk (assessed in 2017).
• Pitt River Sockeye spawning channel has been recently rebuilt to support access to stable spawning
sites (work undertaken collaboratively with Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance and DFO).
Proposed Change for 2023
• DFO has identified a proposed reduction of this production line to zero in 2023.
• This proposal can be revised if additional harvest opportunities to access this stock in terminal
areas are developed. DFO is engaging with local First Nations to assess the extent to which
terminal assessment of abundance and fisheries targeting Pitt River Sockeye can be implemented
in the near term.

Chilliwack River Coho
• Chilliwack Coho are produced for a harvest objective, primarily supporting a directed recreational
fishery in the Vedder and Chilliwack Rivers, as well as bycatch in FSC fisheries targeting other
salmon species.
• Coho hatchery surplus was at very high levels in the early 2010’s. Concerns that this production was
adversely affecting wild salmon survival in the Strait of Georgia led to reductions of hatchery Coho
production at many DFO facilities. This change resulted in a decrease in Coho surplus observed at
Chilliwack Hatchery.
• Over the last 10 years, the Chilliwack Hatchery Coho surplus has again risen to pre-2014 levels.
Some of this increase in hatchery returns can be attributed to improvements in survival. In addition,
recent closures/restrictions of Southern BC salmon fisheries have reduced fishing pressure on this
stock.
Proposed Change for 2023: Reduce production of Chilliwack Hatchery Coho from 800k to 700k smolts.
This adjustment is expected to bring hatchery surplus back into alignment with 2015 – 2017 levels, and
should have negligible impacts on the availability of Hatchery Coho to fisheries.

Fraser River Chum
• Fisheries management measures to protect Interior Fraser River Steelhead have resulted in longerterm closures for many Chum-directed commercial gillnet fisheries in Southern BC, as well as
reductions in fishing opportunities for FSC and recreational fisheries. This has created a misalignment of hatchery Chum production with the capacity of the fishery.
• To avoid excess hatchery fish returning spawning grounds or hatchery facilities, hatchery
production needs for harvest purposes were assessed against the current fishery regime.
1. DFO biologists from SEP Planning and Assessment, Resource Management and Stock
Assessment identified fisheries impacted by Chum fishery closures/reductions and
considered opportunities to access foregone catch in terminal areas or by other gear types.
2. Projections were made of expected harvest in future years, given identified
closures/reductions and other fishery adjustments.
3. Hatchery production with a harvest objective that contributes to those fisheries was
identified (production for rebuilding or other purposes was excluded), and the amount of
hatchery production required to support the remaining fisheries was estimated.
4. As a result of this analysis, adjustments to Chum hatchery production are proposed at three
facilities in the Fraser River for the 2023 Brood Year (2024 Release Year).
Proposed Change for 2023:
• DFO proposes an overall reduction of 45% from 2021 levels for Fraser Chum produced for harvest
purposes. Production was previously reduced by 25% in 2022; the remaining 20% reduction is
proposed for 2023.
• The overall 45% proposed reduction in Fraser Chum hatchery production is commensurate with the
reduction observed in Fraser Chum harvest in recent years due to fishery closures/reductions.
• Adjustments are not proposed for Weaver Creek spawning channels due to implications for
Sockeye production.

IFMP and SEP’s Hatchery Production Planning Timelines Are Linked
• The Draft 2023 SEP Production Plan is included in the Draft 2023/24 Southern BC Salmon IFMP.
• Engagement with First Nations and stakeholders on the Draft 2023 SEP Production Plan will occur
in February/March.
• Feedback on the Draft 2023 SEP Production Plan will be received through the regular IFMP
consultation process. Deadline to submit feedback is April 12.
• All feedback will be considered, and adjustments to the Draft 2023 SEP Production Plan will be
made following internal review.
• Additional First Nations and stakeholder engagement may occur in April (as required).
• Approval of the Final 2023 SEP Production Plan will occur through the regular IFMP approval
process. Release of Final 2023/24 Southern BC Salmon IFMP (with included Final 2023 SEP
Production Plan) is targeted for June 30.
 
"The overall 45% proposed reduction in Fraser Chum hatchery production is commensurate with the
reduction observed in Fraser Chum harvest in recent years due to fishery closures/reductions."

Guess that could also be code for "Harvest Transformation" within the PSSI initiative...spending money to save money - buy back a few commercial vessels in trade for lowering hatchery production costs in future years.
 
searun said:
"The overall 45% proposed reduction in Fraser Chum hatchery production is commensurate with the
reduction observed in Fraser Chum harvest in recent years due to fishery closures/reductions."

Guess that could also be code for "Harvest Transformation" within the PSSI initiative...spending money to save money - buy back a few commercial vessels in trade for lowering hatchery production costs in future years.
Click to expand...
Nothing to do with Thompson Steelhead ?
 
www.hatchmag.com

50 years of research overwhelmingly shows hatcheries are harmful to trout, salmon, char and more

For over 100 years, hatcheries have been producing fish in an effort to mitigate human impacts on the natural environment. Whether to increase stocks to fuel the demands of commercial and recreational fisheries, counteract the effects of habitat loss, or rescue species on the brink of...
www.hatchmag.com


 
Where would we be without our Chinook hatcheries
A job well done!


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I generally agree with what is now termed "strategic" stock enhancement (targeting needs verses blind outplanting) along with some "measures of success" (checks & balances) built into hatchery operations (including assessing introgression impacts) & revising release strategies; including using methodologies such as "Parental-Based Tagging". It's just that those ends of stock enhancement have been underfunded and largely overlooked.
 
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