An Overview of Coho and Chinook Hatchery Facilities in the Strait of Georgia Fisheries and Oceans Canada Mel Sheng Salmon Enhancement Program
Quinsam Puntledge Sliammon Powell R Big Qualicum Little Qualicum Nanaimo Cowichan Sechelt Tenderfoot Capilano Seymour 11 Major Hatchery Facilities 6 Spawning Channels 7 Community Economic Development Projects
Nadina Horsefly Gates Thompson Shuswap Spius Inch Chehalis Weaver Chilliwack
SEP Production in the Strait of Georgia (M-million) Chinook 15-17 M Chum 56 M Sockeye 38 M Coho 6-7 M (avg. 2003-07) 14 M Pink
Georgia Strait 90% Ocean type Chinook Distribution Georgia Basin 90% Coho Distribution Coho Hatchery Coho smolts are normally released from L-April to L- May at 15-22 grams Smolt-to-adult survival has declined from 10-15% in the early 1980 s to.4-3 % Chinook Hatchery chinook smolts are normally released from Mid- May to L- May at 5-6 grams Smolt-to-adult survival has declined from 1-3% in the early 1980 s to.2-.5 % Columbia R.
Georgia Basin Coho
Strait of Georgia Coho Releases & Survivals T o tal S m o lt R eleased 10,000,000 9,000,000 8,000,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 Total Rel Median Surv 40.0 35.0 30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 S u rvival M ed ian % 0 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 Brood Year 0.0
Percentage of Hatchery Fish in Georgia Basin
Coho Exploitation and Marine Survival
Strait of Georgia Coho Marine Survivals 20.0% 18.0% 16.0% 14.0% Wild Hatchery 12.0% 10.0% 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 0.0% 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 Return Year 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
Coho Smolt Survival West Coast Vancouver Island 16.0% 14.0% Robertson Creek Hatchery Carnation Creek 12.0% 10.0% Percen nt Survival 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 0.0% 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Brood Year
Strait of Georgia Coho Catch (thousands) 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 1920 1937 1946 1961 1978 1991 2008
Summary-Coho Release Strategy Studies SEP has been releasing 6.5 to 7.5 million coho smolts into the Strait of Georgia for the past 15 20 years Georgia Strait coho survival rates declining May be linked to Georgia Strait carrying capacity or other ocean condition issues. Science community and stakeholder interest in experimenting with coho smolt release strategies and numbers to test carrying capacity and improve coho survival rates in the Strait of Georgia.
Georgia Strait Chinook
Comparative Chinook Smolt Release-To-Adult Survival Rates Hatchery 5 year * Surv Rate % 10 year** Surv Rate % Big Qualicum 0.2 0.2 Little Qualicum 0.3 0.3 Cowichan 0.3 0.4 Quinsam 0.3 0.4 Chilliwack Puntledge 0.5 0.4 Nanaimo 0.5 0.6 * 1998-2002 brood years ** 1993-2002 brood years
Mean Survival of SEP Facilities in the Georgia Basin Strait of Georgia Chinook Releases & Survival 35,000,000 30,000,000 12.0 10.0 Total Hatchery Chi inook Released 25,000,000 20,000,000 15,000,000 10,000,000 8.0 6.0 4.0 Median % Surviv val Chinook Rel % Survival 5,000,000 2.0 0 0.0 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 Brood Year
Quinsam R Chinook Releases and Survivals, by Brood Year Total # Rel leased 5,000,000 Total Rel 4,500,000 Surv 4,000,000 3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 0 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 Brood Year 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 % Surv vival
Cowichan R Chinook Releases and Survivals, by Brood Year Total # Rel leased 3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 0 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 Brood Year 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 % S urv vival Total Rel Surv
Chilliwack R Chinook Releases and Survivals, by Brood Year 3,000,000 2,500,000 12.0 10.0 Total # Rel leased 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 % Surv vival # Rel Surv 0 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 0.0 Brood Year
July 2008 Gulf Islands n = 44 Upper Fraser 9% Vancouver Island (east) 9% Cowichan River 25% September 2008 Gulf Islands n = 412 Cowichan River 22% Snake River 2% Puget Sound 2% North Thompson 9% Vancouver Island (east) 28% Upper Fraser 1% Low er Fraser 23% South Thompson 18% Low er Thompson 0% Mid Fraser 14% Low er Thompson 2% Low er Fraser 28% Origin of juvenile chinook salmon in the Gulf Islands in 2008 November 2008 Gulf Islands n = 80 Vancouver Island (east) 50% Puget Sound 6% Northern Mainland 1% Vancouver Island (w est) 1% Mid Skeena 0% Mid Columbia 0% Mid Fraser 1% Cowichan River 15% Low er Fraser 11% Puget Sound 15% Mid Fraser 1% Mid-Upper Fraser 1% Upper Fraser 1% South Thompson 5%
Chinook Summary SEP has been releasing 20 to 30 million chinook smolts into the Strait of Georgia for the past 15 20 years Georgia Strait survival rates declining May be linked to Georgia Strait carrying capacity or other ocean condition issues. Science community and stakeholder interest in experimenting with chinook smolt release strategies and numbers to test carrying capacity and improve survival rates in the Strait of Georgia.