Is Bigger Better for Hatchery Chinook Salmon?

Fishy Fridays

Weekly spotlight on fisheries science journal articles

 

Jeff Kopaska
AFS Executive Director
jkopaska@fisheries.org

This multi-year study changed the distribution of biomass within hatchery units, comparing Big(ger fish)-Low(er density) with Small-High biomass distributions.  There were differences that benefitted Big-Low at various stages of growth, release, and migration. However, the ultimate goal was adult returns that were not biased toward younger (age-2 and age-3) adults. Using that criteria, more Small-High fish returned at age-4 and age-5.  I enjoyed the insight and the way they addressed challenges due to hatchery constraints and pandemic-related obstacles.  Enjoy!

Trade-offs between release number and fish size for Chinook Salmon hatchery programs