Premium
Routine Use of Sterile Fish in Salmonid Sport Fisheries
Author(s) -
Kozfkay Joseph R.,
Dillon Jeffrey C.,
Schill Daniel J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446(2006)31[392:ruosfi]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - hatchery , fishery , trout , stocking , rainbow trout , fish hatchery , recreational fishing , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , business , fish farming , aquaculture
Since 1997, Idaho Department of Fish and Game hatchery and research personnel have worked cooperatively to develop a sterile trout program with the primary goals of protecting the genetic integrity of native stocks while continuing to supply hatchery‐reared trout for harvest‐oriented anglers. Results of recent field evaluations of sterile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) demonstrate that they provide recreational fisheries of equal or superior quality to normal diploid fish when stocked as catchables in streams or as fingerlings in productive lentic systems. Our preliminary evaluations suggest that use of sterile trout in high mountain lakes may require stocking adjustments or may eventually prove problematic because of lower survival rates. Sterile trout eggs can be readily purchased from commercial sources or produced from agency broodstocks with nominal equipment and manpower costs. To gain a better understanding of sterile fish use by other agencies, we conducted a U.S. state phone survey during 2005, and posed questions to fisheries administrators regarding their stocking practices. Officials from 10 states indicated that they had ongoing programs for sterilizing hatchery salmonids. Eight of these programs were located in the western United States, while only two occurred east of the Mississippi River. The presence of native species either listed under the Endangered Species Act or petitioned to be listed has greatly influenced agency interest in sterile fish programs. Regardless of native species status, we believe that expansion of sterile hatchery trout programs can improve conservation and management programs in other states. Despite our obvious enthusiasm for use of sterile trout in recreational fisheries, they are not a panacea, and we call for additional evaluations with normal diploid trout in states developing such programs.