16.5 million baby salmon released into San Pablo Bay

[JayDubP]

Wonder what kind of effect this will really have.


Associated Press

Posted: 06/21/2010 12:40:33 PM PDT
Updated: 06/21/2010 01:08:30 PM PDT


SAN PABLO BAY — Millions of baby salmon have been released into Northern California waterways to help the struggling fish recover from population declines.

The state Department of Fish and Game says most of the 16.5 million young salmon smolts were released into San Pablo Bay, located between the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The fall run of chinook, or king, salmon in the Sacramento River provides much of the fish found off the California and Oregon coasts. But since 2007, this population has dipped to levels so low that fishing has been cancelled or curtailed greatly.

Fishermen blame the decline on the delta's vast series of pumps that divert water to farms that the salmon need to survive. Others blame changing ocean conditions.

The state's smolt releases were completed last week.

[wjorg]

Maybe we'll get 1200 fish back, with inferior hatchery genes further diluting those of wild. Maybe, if we're "lucky." Maybe if they dont end up flavoring Malibus water as they rot in the canal on the way there.

[Bob Laskodi]

<<<with inferior hatchery genes further diluting those of wild>>>
And therein lies the rub. If we dump the "mutant" salmon into SP Bay, they don't imprint to a home water and stray to wherever they end up. Like to the Yuba or Stani, rivers that don't have hatchery programs. And they dilute the (mostly) native, wild, gene pool that still exists in those streams. OTOH, if we dump them into the rivers so they do imprint, they get killed in the Delta "death trap" (sucked south or killed by poor water quality), or eaten by predators on the way to the ocean. So, which option do you choose????? Sure glad I'm retired and don't work in the scientific field any longer!!!! Talk about Solomon's Choice!!!!

[Finsane]

I think the hatchery raised fish, taken to the bay, will return to the river in which they were spawned...

[Bob Laskodi]

Not exactly. There's no telling where they will return when you dump them in SP Bay, and that is the problem, because they keep showing up in places like the Yuba and Stani where they are not wanted (or belong).

[OceanSunfish]

Not exactly. There's no telling where they will return when you dump them in SP Bay, and that is the problem, because they keep showing up in places like the Yuba and Stani where they are not wanted (or belong).

Unfortunately, it's not a fool proof system.....

For example, the Moke River Hatchery had to go retrieve their fish from Nimbus last fall to be able to harvest some eggs for this spring's smolt release.

The "rub" is what it is unless all the dams preventing fish to return to their original spawning grounds are removed. Until then, we have no choice but to accept a huge put-and-take salmon fishery that is no longer working due to poor water quality and water management. (The needs of the fish have to be first and foremost with regards to water management...... not last)

And, actually there really wasn't anything wrong, IMO, with the salmon fishery system when it was healthy in the late 90's. The "rub" was still the same as it is today...... IMO, "wild" went by the wayside when dams went up....

In the meantime, there is an ocean salmon fishing season right now! Unfortunately, there are no salmon for anglers to catch..... It's worse than the horrible years of the early 90's as far as ocean anglers are concerned. Poorer returns this fall will almost certainly warrant more closed seasons to come.....

[rainforestspey]

unfortunately they will probably 1. die in droves, 2. stray at extremely high rates. Fish that do not migrate naturally though their natal river system are known to stray at dramatically higher levels, posing a threat to the genetic integrity of non-hatchery systems around the region. Huge hatchery plants wont save commercial fishing in california, only hard choices about irrigation, dams and reducing hatchery reliance can accomplish that.

Rainforest

[Finsane]

Thanks for the heads up guys.

[mr. 3 wt.]

Wonder what kind of effect this will really have.


Associated Press

Posted: 06/21/2010 12:40:33 PM PDT
Updated: 06/21/2010 01:08:30 PM PDT


SAN PABLO BAY — Millions of baby salmon have been released into Northern California waterways to help the struggling fish recover from population declines.

The state Department of Fish and Game says most of the 16.5 million young salmon smolts were released into San Pablo Bay, located between the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The fall run of chinook, or king, salmon in the Sacramento River provides much of the fish found off the California and Oregon coasts. But since 2007, this population has dipped to levels so low that fishing has been cancelled or curtailed greatly.

Fishermen blame the decline on the delta's vast series of pumps that divert water to farms that the salmon need to survive. Others blame changing ocean conditions.

The state's smolt releases were completed last week.


This is great news, thanks for the heads up!











Now I can get my striper stuff and head out to San Pablo Bay.

[Ned Morris]

I hope the stripers get most of these mutants and seals can have the rest. Unfortunately does not matter though, the damage has been done decades ago. Genetic diversity of wild Salmon and Steelhead stocks have gone about the same way as the general population. Inferior specimens eventually work their way in.