BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1997 Proposal

Section 1. Administrative
Section 2. Narrative
Section 3. Budget

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Title of project
Marking All Hatchery Fish

BPA project number   5514200

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
TBD

Sponsor type   Placeholder

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   ,

Biological opinion ID   RM&EP C1-C4 NMFS-BO RPA

NWPPC Program number   8.4C

Short description
Implement full marking of all hatchery salmon released in the Columbia River Basin. As a first step, all salmon produced upstream from McNary should be marked.

Project start year   1997    End year   

Start of operation and/or maintenance   0

Project development phase   IMPLEMENTATION

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
Project 9207300 An Automated Fish Marking and Tagging System; this project is developing a viable method of marking large numbers of smolts in a manner that minimizes mortality, handling, and stress.

Project history
The marking of all hatchery-produced fish in the Columbia River Basin has been an ongoing issue of discussion for many years. Over the years, the marking of many important production groups has been achieved but still others hatchery production groups remain unmarked. Recent development of promising new and improved marking technologies together with the need for further protection of wild, ESA and other sensitive stocks has increased support for implementation of a policy of marking all Columbia Basin hatchery production. Since 1993 all hatchery production from the Snake River system has been marked.

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications
Marking all hatchery production can assist managers in allocating water and adjusting river operations to provide benefits for selected populations. Marking all hatchery salmon can also provide information that can be applied in an adaptive management framework to help solve the problems associated with harvest of Columbia River mixed-stock fisheries and straying of hatchery produced fish. Marking all hatchery production can also provide better understanding of the migrational characteristics and biological traits of hatchery produced stocks in comparison to wild or naturally spawned stocks.

Specific measureable objectives

Testable hypothesis
Ho: To accomplish salmon recovery, there is no need to mark all hatchery production distinguishable from wild fish in the Columbia River Basin.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
The Mid-Columbia PUD's would need to fully endorse this program. This project assumes research and development of a low-cost visual mark applicable on a massive scale with minimum handling mortality and handling impacts will be successful (i.e. successful project 9207300).

Methods

Brief schedule of activities
FY97: Continue marking all hatchery fish produced in the Snake River Basin; mark all mid-Columbia hatchery production above McNary Dam.
FY98-FY99: Mark all hatchery production upstream of Bonneville Dam.
FY99 and beyond: Mark all hatchery production from Columbia River hatcheries, including in lower Columbia River.

Biological need
Marking all hatchery production in the Columbia River Basin is needed to assist managers in allocating water and adjusting river operations to provide benefits for selected populations including sensitive ESA stocks. Marking all hatchery salmon is also needed to help solve the problems associated with harvest of mixed-stock fisheries and straying of hatchery produced fish.

Critical uncertainties

Summary of expected outcome
Improved information on the biological performance of hatchery and wild stocks and improved ability for managers to adjust river operations to provide protection and benefits for selected populations that can be applied in an adaptive management framework to assist the recovery of Columbia River salmon and steelhead populations.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Successful implementation for marking all mid-Columbia hatchery production will require the endorsement and cooperation of the mid-Columbia PUDs.

Risks

Monitoring activity
Fishery managers will coordinate and carefully evaluate each component of this program and continually assess and address any concerns that could lead to any decrease in survival from the marking and handling of all hatchery-produced fish.

Section 3. Budget

* For most projects, Authorized is the amount recommended by CBFWA and the Council. Planned is amount currently allocated. Contracted is the amount obligated to date of printout.

Funding recommendations

CBFWA funding review group   System Policy

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $300,000