BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1998 Proposal

Section 1. Summary
Section 2. Goals
Section 3. Background
Section 4. Purpose and methods
Section 5. Planned activities
Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation
Section 7. Relationships
Section 8. Costs and FTE

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Summary

Title of project
Redfish Lake Sockeye Captive Broodstock Program

BPA project number   9204000

Short description
Incubate and rear Redfish Lake sockeye salmon captive broodstocks. Provide pre-spawning adults, eyed eggs, and juveniles to aid recovery of this ESA-listed endangered stock in Idaho.

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Section 2. Goals

General
Supports a healthy Columbia basin; maintains biological diversity; maintains genetic integrity; increases run sizes or populations

Section 3. Background

Stream area affected

Stream name   Salmon River
Subbasin   Stanley Basin

History
The Coastal Zone and Estuarine Studies Division, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), in collaboration with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, has been conducting research to prevent extinction of Snake River sockeye salmon. NMFS listed the Snake River sockeye salmon as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) in December 1991. NMFS recovery efforts for this stock center on captive broodstocks for production of juveniles for supplementation. Implementation and refinement of captive broodstocks for recovery of Snake River sockeye salmon are identified as a priorities [4.1.a; 4.1.c in the proposed Recovery Plan for Snake River salmon.
Snake River sockeye salmon are a prime example of a species on the threshold of extinction. The last known remnants of this stock return to Redfish Lake in the Sawtooth Basin of Idaho at the headwaters of the Salmon River. Only a few sockeye salmon adults (zero to eight per year) have returned to Redfish Lake in each of the last 6 years. On the basis of these critically low population numbers, NMFS implemented captive broodstocks as an emergency measure for Redfish Lake sockeye salmon.
Redfish Lake sockeye salmon captive broodstocks are being maintained in captivity throughout their life and their offspring will be released to supplement the wild population. Each yearclass will be maintained for only a limited number of generations to help assure that adaptability to native habitats is preserved. Mating strategies for fish reared in captivity have been established to maintain and enhance genetic diversity.
Theoretically, the relatively high fecundity of anadromous Pacific salmon, coupled with potentially high survival in protective culture, should allow captive broodstocks to produce large numbers of juveniles in a single generation to help "jumpstart" the population. Supplementation with juveniles from captive broodstocks should result in substantial returns of adults sockeye salmon to Redfish Lake and should lead to rebuilding of the natural run and delisting.

Biological results achieved
The NMFS captive broodstock program for Redfish Lake sockeye salmon focuses on: 1) adults that returned to Redfish Lake in 1991, 1993, 1994, and 1996; 2) residual fish captured in the lake; and 3) captive broodstocks reared and spawned in captivity. Fish are reared to adult either full term in fresh well water or from smolt to adult in pumped, filtered, and UV sterilized seawater. Pre-spawning adults and eyed eggs are returned to Idaho to aid recovery efforts for Snake River sockeye salmon. The first group of captive-reared fish (1991 brood) spawned in fall 1994; producing almost 50,000 viable eggs. Spawning of 1993 brood in fall 1996, produced almost 400,000 viable eggs. NMFS captive broodstocks are projected to produce up to 500,000 eggs yearly between 1997-2002.

Project reports and papers
Flagg, T. A., C. V. W. Mahnken, and K. A. Johnson. 1995. Captive broodstocks for recovery of depleted populations of Pacific salmon. Amer. Fish. Soc. Symp. 15:81-90.

Flagg, T. A., K. A. Johnson, and J. C. Gislason. 1994. Redfish Lake sockeye salmon broodstock programs. In Proceedings of the 1993 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Sockeye Culture Workshop. Cooper Landing, Alaska. 10 p. (Available from Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112.)

Flagg, T. A. 1993. Redfish Lake sockeye salmon captive broodstock rearing and research, 1991-1992. Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Contract DE-AI79-92BP41841. 16 p. (Available from Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112.)

Flagg, T. A., and W. C. McAuley. 1994. Redfish Lake sockeye salmon captive broodstock rearing and research, 1991-1993. Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Contract DE-AI79-92BP41841. 99 p. (Available from Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112.)

Flagg, T. A., W. C. McAuley, M. R. Wastel, D. A. Frost, and C. V. W. Mahnken. 1996. Redfish Lake sockeye salmon captive broodstock rearing and research, 1991-1994. Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Contract DE-AI79-92BP41841. 98 p. (Available from Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112.)

Adaptive management implications
Because of the critically low population size of Redfish Lake sockeye salmon, captive broodstocks appear to offer the only hope to maintain the species while habitat improvements are underway. Maintaining geographically separate captive brood populations will help reduce the risk of catastrophic loss of the Redfish Lake sockeye salmon gene pool from mechanical failure, human error, or disease. In upcoming years, the Redfish Lake captive broodstock programs should provide hundreds of thousands of eggs for use in recovery efforts. It is virtually certain that without the boost provided by these captive broodstock projects, Redfish Lake sockeye salmon would soon be extinct.

Section 4. Purpose and methods

Specific measureable objectives
Rear endangered groups of Redfish Lake sockeye salmon captive broodstocks to maturity and spawn fish. Incubate eggs and make eggs available to Idaho for use in recovery efforts for this endangered species.

Critical uncertainties
Whether endangered Redfish Lake sockeye salmon captive broodstocks will continue to produce gametes in sufficient numbers and of sufficient quality to aid recovery efforts.

Biological need
Both first and Asafety-net second generation captive broodstocks are identified as priorities [4.1.a] to aid recovery in the Proposed Recovery Plan for Snake River Salmon. Because of the critically low population size of Redfish Lake sockeye salmon, captive broodstocks appear to offer the only hope to maintain the species while habitat improvements are underway. Maintaining geographically separate captive brood populations will help reduce the risk of catastrophic loss of the Redfish Lake sockeye salmon gene pool from mechanical failure, human error, or disease. In upcoming years, the Redfish Lake captive broodstock programs should provide hundreds of thousands of eggs for use in recovery efforts. It is virtually certain that without the boost provided by these captive broodstock projects, Redfish Lake sockeye salmon would soon be extinct.

Hypothesis to be tested
1. Endangered Redfish Lake sockeye salmon grown to maturity in freshwater have similar growth, survival, and reproductive success as fish grown in seawater. Ho: no difference. H1: dissimilar difference.
2. Endangered Redfish Lake sockeye salmon captive broodstocks will continue to produce gametes in sufficient numbers and of sufficient quality to aid recovery efforts. Ho: no eggs produced. H1: eggs will be produced in sufficient numbers and quality.

Alternative approaches
The alternate approach to captive broodstock intervention for Redfish Lake sockeye salmon appeared to be extinction of this ESA-listed stock.

Justification for planning
N/A

Methods
1. Replicated groups of endangered Redfish Lake sockeye salmon will be reared to maturity in 4.1-m circular fiberglass tanks supplied with either fresh well water or filtered and sterilized seawater. At maturity, fish will be spawned and individual families incubated in isolation.
2. Between 400-1,000 fish of each brood year and brood type of Redfish Lake sockeye salmon will be reared in protective culture.
3. Pre-spawning adults, eyed eggs, and/or juveniles will be returned to Idaho for use in recovery efforts for this ESA-listed endangered Redfish Lake sockeye salmon.
4. Appropriate statistical analysis will be conducted to compare growth, survival, and reproductive success of fish grown in freshwater and seawater.

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
No known critical risks are associated with captive broodstock rearing for Redfish Lake sockeye salmon. In fact, as described above, it is virtually certain that without the boost provided by these captive broodstock projects, Redfish Lake sockeye salmon would soon be extinct.

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
Maintaining geographically separate captive brood populations will help reduce the risk of catastrophic loss of the Redfish Lake sockeye salmon gene pool. In upcoming years, the Redfish Lake captive broodstock programs should provide hundreds of thousands of eggs for use in recovery efforts.

Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
No utilization; Redfish Lake sockeye salmon listed as endangered under ESA.

Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
Up to 5,000 adult sockeye salmon returned to Redfish Lake in the 1950s.

Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
Recovery to delisting under ESA.

Contribution toward long-term goal
Snake River sockeye salmon

Indirect biological or environmental changes
Recovery and ESA delisting for Snake River sockeye salmon.

Physical products
Full seeding of three sockeye salmon lake habitats in the Stanley Basin (e.g., approximately 100,000 smolt unit equivalents in Redfish Lake, 50,000 in Alturas Lake, and 20,000 in Pettit Lake).

Environmental attributes affected by the project
N/A

Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
N/A

Measure of attribute changes
N/A

Assessment of effects on project outcomes of critical uncertainty
Statistical analysis.

Information products
Knowledge and refinement of captive broodstock technology for application to depleted stocks of salmonids.

Coordination outcomes
The project is being coordinated with states and tribes through the Stanley Basin Technical Oversight Committee.

MONITORING APPROACH
(See Methods section)

Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
These uncertainties are being addressed through related projects conducted by IDFG (9107200), the Snoshone-Bannock Tribe (9107100) and the University of Idaho (9009300).

Data analysis and evaluation
Statistical analysis.

Information feed back to management decisions
BPA reports and scientific publications. In addition, information from projects related to recovery efforts for ESA-listed endangered Redfish Lake is being coordinated through the Stanley Basin Technical Oversight Committee.

Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
Captive broodstock research has to be carried out to resolve husbandry uncertainties. Captive broodstocks will prevent extinction of ESA-listed endangered Redfish Lake sockeye salmon. However, captive broodstocks alone will not lead to recovery. Improvements in survival in the migratory corridor, estuary, and ocean are required for full population recovery.

Evaluation
Interim measures of success should include: 1) efforts are preventing extinction of Redfish Lake sockeye salmon; 2) efforts are resulting in full seeding of juvenile rearing habitats; 3) monitoring is underway to evaluate smolt outmigration and adult return resulting from releases of fish from captive broodstocks for Redfish Lake sockeye salmon.

Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
Through adaptive management and coordination at the Stanley Basin Technical Oversight Committee.

Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
By preventing extinction of ESA-listed endangered Redfish Lake sockeye salmon.

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
NMFS is cooperating with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in using captive broodstocks to aid rebuilding of Snake River sockeye salmon. Cooperative efforts for restoration of Snake River sockeye salmon are being coordinated through the Stanley Basin Technical Oversight Committee.

Section 8. Costs and FTE

1997 Planned  $500,000

Other non-financial supporters
N/A

How does percentage apply to direct costs
Applies to total direct labor charges only.