North Hood Canal Straying Study
Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)
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2005-PGST-2 | Puget Sound | 08/20/2006 | 12/30/2006 | 2005 | Completed | 01/14/2025 | |
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Description
To collect population-specific demographic information on hatchery straying that along with genetic data being assessed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), will provide the basis for an analysis of hatchery coho influence on naturally producing coho populations of north Hood Canal. The data and analysis are needed in support of decisions about future operations of the Port Gamble net pen coho program and other north Hood Canal hatchery programs (i.e., Quilcene National Fish Hatchery coho and Quilcene Bay net pen coho). Data collected in the fall will include standard spawner survey data (including live and dead counts), carcass sampling (ad-clips, CWTs, scales and fish length POH and FL), opercula punches (for genetic analysis) and GPS/GIS ground truthing for all streams surveyed. In the spring, smolts will sampled for fork length and small, innocuous caudal clips will be collected for DNA analysis. The project will provide a coho spawner sampling team that will augment and expand on carcass sampling by current, ongoing spawner survey programs in North Hood Canal. This study team, working in cooperation with existing surveyors, will increase the frequency of carcass sampling. On some streams, the team will extend current surveys earlier and possibly later in the season to help ensure earlier or later spawning fish are not missed. Efforts will be made to ensure that selected streams are surveyed sufficiently to provide reasonable escapement estimates, so that they may be partitioned into total The project is designed to increase success of coho carcass sampling in north Hood Canal streams so that we may determine the origin of the carcasses (hatchery or wild). At a minimum, we are attempting to acquire sufficient samples on selected streams to estimate proportions of hatchery and wild fish by analyzing marks, CWTs and scales (for example, see Seiler 2004). On those streams where we are able to obtain reasonable total escapement estimates (using the area under curve method), the sampling results will be expanded to estimate total hatchery and wild escapements. Also important is collection of DNA samples from carcasses and from coho smolts to compare with local hatchery baselines and, in collaboration with the USFWS, attempt to account for hatchery genetic influence on the local coho populations. hatchery and total wild escapement estimates (by expanding the results of the carcass sampling). The initial focus of the study team will be on eight selected east and west side north Hood Canal streams: east side - Martha John Cr., Little Anderson Cr., Seabeck Cr., Stavis Cr.; west side - Shine Cr. Thorndyke Cr. Tarboo Cr., Rocky Brook Cr.. We will expand our efforts to additional streams if our resources prove sufficient. In addition to sampling carcasses and surveying spawners in the fall, the study will sample coho emigrants at WDFWs coho smolt traps on four Hood Canal streams: Little Anderson, Big Beef, Seabeck and Stavis creeks. Weekly sampling of 10-20 smolts will likely occur, the actual sampling number to be determined in cooperation with the USFWS since the sampling is in support of the USFWS project to develop baseline DNA genetic profiles of north Hood Canal coho. Spawner surveys will begin in early September and be completed by the end of December. Carcass sampling would begin mid September and continue into December. Weekly smolt sampling will fall within the same timing of WDFWs smolt trap operations beginning in early April and ending in early June (Seiler et al. 2004). Tribal biologists, experienced in surveying and sampling coho spawners, will train the study survey team and monitor its efforts.
Project Benefit
The Co-managers manage coho harvest in the mixed stock areas of Hood Canal to protect natural escapement, thus establishing a priority for natural production in most of Hood Canal (HCSMP 1986). The exceptions are Port Gamble and Dabob/Quilcene bays where hatchery production is the priority. The two bays continue to be important hatchery-based terminal coho fishing areas for the tribes. Under these circumstances, the tribes require more information than currently exists to consider hatchery program modifications to the benefit of Hood Canal natural coho, since the modifications may compromise fishing opportunities (from reducing or eliminating hatchery programs) or involve high costs of a new program (such as acquiring and maintaining an alternative broodstock). The proposed straying study and associated genetic assessment will assist the Co-managers in determining the benefits and risks of the current north Hood Canal programs and support decisions for the protection and recovery of natural coho. Results of the straying study coupled with those of the genetic assessment are expected to provide information on hatchery coho straying and its timing. We will learn about the genetic makeup of the north Hood Canal natural and hatchery populations and may be able to distinguish between hatchery and natural stocks in individual streams. Thus we will be in a better position to make management decisions affecting north Hood Canal hatchery programs. For example, we may verify that straying is extensive but that some streams are affected more than others (e.g., east versus west side of the canal), or that genetic effects are minor (perhaps because of differences in timing between hatchery and wild coho). These results might lead us reduce or terminate netpen production, or not. We also might choose to use an alternative broodstock, but would do so based on knowing the status of the coho population alternatives. We would expect our management decisions to be influenced by the results. This project will provide new information on the extent of hatchery coho straying and the impacts to natural coho populations. Also, by its support of the USFWS genetic assessment, the study will support development of DNA baseline data for coho salmon. Over the long term, our collection of adult and smolt DNA samples may lead to estimates of reproductive success by straying coho.
Accomplishments
Research and Monitoring |
Stream Miles Monitored |
3.00 |
3.00 |
Funding Details |
PCSRF | $155,749 |
Report Total: | $155,749 |
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Worksites
20034079
- Worksite Identifier: 20034079
- Start Date:
- End Date:
Area Description
No Area Description data was found for this worksite.
Location Information
- Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
- Subbasin: Hood Canal (17110018)
- Watershed:
- Subwatershed:
- State: Washington
- Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
- Latitude: 47.85179
- Longitude: -122.568547
ESU
- Hood Canal Summer-run Chum Salmon ESU
Map
Photos
Metrics
Metrics
- E.0
Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)Y (Y/N)
- . . E.0.a
RM&E Funding 115,748.00
- . . E.0.d.1
Number of Cooperating Organizations 5
- . . E.0.d.2
Name Of Cooperating Organizations. | |
USFWS
WDFW
PNPTC
Northwest Water Institute
North Olympic Salmon Coalition |
- . . E.0.e.1
Number of reports prepared
- . . E.1
MonitoringY (Y/N)
- . . . . E.1.a
Monitoring funding 115,748.00
- . . . . E.1.b.1
Stream Miles Monitored 3.00
- . . . . E.1.c.1
Adult salmonid population monitoringY (Y/N)
- . . . . E.1.c.2
Salmonid smolt or fry monitoringY (Y/N)
- . . . . E.1.e
Description of monitoring | |
The intent of the proposed study is not solely to document north Hood Canal coho straying, but also to obtain evidence regarding the impacts of straying on north Hood Canal natural populations. We expect to accomplish this by developing genetic profiles of the north Hood Canal populations, acquired by a combination of our fall and spring DNA sampling, and USFWS' analysis of those samples. We expect the DNA results combined with straying results will allow us to assess the status of naturally producing north Hood Canal coho and will support decisions about the future of the hatchery programs. These decisions will likely address appropriate broodstock, size of programs, and the possibility of termination of one or more of the programs. |
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