Evaluating Alaska’s Ocean-Ranching Salmon Hatcheries: Biologic and Management Issues Environment and Natural Resources Institute University of Alaska Anchorage Evaluating Alaska’s Ocean-Ranching Salmon Hatcheries: Biologic and Management Issues Prepared by Environment and Natural Resources Institute University of Alaska Anchorage 707 A Street, Suite 101 Anchorage, AK 99501 Prepared for Trout Unlimited Alaska Salmonid Biodiversity Program 1399 West 34th Avenue, Suite 205 Anchorage, AK 99503 [email protected] October 2001 CONTENTS Tables and Figures..........................................................................................................................................................v Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................................ vi Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................................... vii Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 North Pacific Rim Hatchery Production ................................................................................................................. 3 British Columbia, Canada .................................................................................................................................... 3 Japan ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3 South Korea ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 Russia ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4 U.S. Pacific Northwest ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Alaska....................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Biologic Issues ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 Genetics .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Homing/Straying ..................................................................................................................................................14 Ecological Interactions .......................................................................................................................................16 Marine Environment ...........................................................................................................................................18 Climatological Influences ...........................................................................................................................18 Ocean Carrying Capacity ..........................................................................................................................20 Density-Dependent Competition............................................................................................................21 Fishery Management Implications ...................................................................................................................22 Management Issues.....................................................................................................................................................25 Mixed-Stock Fisheries .............................................................................................................................. 26 Alaska’s Hatchery Program ......................................................................................................................................29 History ..................................................................................................................................................................29 Planning .................................................................................................................................................................30 Permitting .............................................................................................................................................................32 Policies ...................................................................................................................................................................34 Site Selection........................................................................................................................................................35 EvaluatingAlaska’sOcean-RanchingSalmonHatcheries iii Stock Selection ....................................................................................................................................................35 Straying ..................................................................................................................................................................37 Fish Culture ..........................................................................................................................................................37 Genetic Diversity ................................................................................................................................................38 Disease Protocols ...............................................................................................................................................38 Fisheries Management ........................................................................................................................................39 Special Harvest Area ...................................................................................................................................40 Mixed-Stock Fisheries ................................................................................................................................40 Escapement ...................................................................................................................................................41 Discriminating Hatchery Fish in the Harvest ........................................................................................43 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................................45 References Cited ........................................................................................................................................................51 Personal Communications ........................................................................................................................................61 Glossary ........................................................................................................................................................................63 Appendices A. Broodstock History ............................................................................................................................................. 67 B. Sound Science Review and Planning Team Research Objectives ................................................................ 77 iv TABLESANDFIGURES Tables 1. Alaska commercial harvest of hatchery-produced fish in 2000 .................................................................... 7 2. Relative differences between wild and hatchery salmonids ........................................................................17 3. Time line of fishery enhancement events in Alaska .......................................................................................30 Figures 1. Hatchery locations in Alaska ................................................................................................................................ 6 2. PNP application process chart ...........................................................................................................................33 3. Regulation of PNP hatcheries.............................................................................................................................33 EvaluatingAlaska’sOcean-RanchingSalmonHatcheries v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The University of Alaska Anchorage’s Environment The Institute would like to thank the following sci- and Natural Resources Institute prepared this re- entists for reviewing the draft manuscript: William port under contract to Trout Unlimited, whose W. Smoker, University of Alaska Southeast; Phillip funding was provided by the Coldwater Conserva- Mundy, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council; tion Fund of Trout Unlimited, The Curtis and Edith David Welch, Canada Department of Fisheries and Munson Foundation, The Overbrook Foundation, Oceans; and Richard Bailey, Trout Unlimited - Brit- The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Weeden ish Columbia. Our thanks are also extended to the Foundation, and The Wolfensohn Family Founda- Alaska Department of Fish and Game