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Pilot Program Saves Critically Endangered Sockeye
5 Jul
Summary
- Trucking sockeye to a hatchery offers better returns than river travel.
- Critically endangered Snake River sockeye numbers are far below forecasts.
- A pilot program bypasses dams to protect fish from warm river waters.
A pilot program trucking sockeye salmon to a hatchery at Eagle is demonstrating improved returns compared to fish navigating the Columbia and Snake rivers. This initiative provides hope for the critically endangered species, as current returns are significantly below preseason forecasts.
The program, a partnership between the Nez Perce Tribe and Idaho Fish and Game, aims to protect sockeye by bypassing dams and warm river waters. Fish are trucked to the Eagle Hatchery, where they are incorporated into a captive breeding program, offering a vital safeguard against extinction.
Last year, approximately 400 sockeye returned to the hatchery. This year, early trapping has already shown a significant increase in adult sockeye compared to the previous year, indicating the program's potential success in bolstering sockeye populations.
