In an attempt to increase fall and spring Chinook salmon runs to California’s Feather River, hatchery personnel have been killing thousands of salmon this year. What gives?
It’s a move that biologists deem necessary — cull fish to help get a distinct separation between the fall and spring runs — but as you may guess, anglers aren’t too fired up about the whole deal.
Get the whole story at the Sacramento Bee
Norm says
Every so often we see someone who thinks he can make a name for himself at the expense of others or the natural process of nature. Leave the Salmon alone, improve the river conditions !!!
JD says
Roger that, Norm. The ivory tower fisheries managers need to get out of the office more and see what is really going on out in the world.
Nomad says
Why not transfer these fish to other waning river systems. Seems any attempts to rehabilitate less successful populations what be a positive.
jerry k says
I remember hitler wanted a perfect race also, where did it get him?
Leave the salmon alone, they will evolve!
joeE says
Why are they only manually spawning a certain amount of salmon. Why wouldnt we try to raise the numbers back to what they used to. This seems to be the main issue to me. Kill all you want as longas you spawn all you can as well. I see the point in the kill off of the “tweeners”, but dont see why they wont harvest all that come through?
JR says
The SacBee article gives the answer. They need to isolate the Spring Run in order to maintain the protection under the ESA. These runs have adapted to the changes in their environment, i.e.; dams, changing weather cycles over the last 50 years, etc. So, why do the “biologists” think we can modify the adaptations the species has developed? Any species is wired to perpetuate, and it will because it has the ability and instinct to survive and adapt, regardless if the changes to its environment are natural, or man caused.
Jody says
Its all over Federal Grant, extinct species, if I am wrong let me know
Wilson Taguinod says
The only way we should be managing our fisheries is to provide adequate habitat and abundant water. After that, DO NOTHING. The fish will sort it out much better than we have since the Lewis and Clark days.
If you haven’t read “Salmon Without Rivers” yet, I highly recommend it.
jerry k says
Right on!
Cal says
How about giving the eggs to a different hatchery…. Didn’t the Feather River Hatchery kill millions of eggs a couple years back as well….