Assessing potential interactions between wild and hatchery Chinook salmon in the early marine environment

Estuaries are crucial stopover areas for juvenile salmon during outmigration and especially for Chinook salmon who can reside in this habitat for over a month. Many populations of Chinook salmon from the Pacific Northwest are threatened and endangered making conservation important for this species. In response to relatively small returns to spawning grounds, hatchery production of salmon has been used to bolster population numbers. Utilization of eelgrass habitat in the estuary contributes to dietary reserves needed for early marine life. Hatchery and wild Chinook may use estuary habitat differently resulting in potential competition and dissimilar diets which impact overall survival. Raincoast Conservation Foundation has funding to study habitat use of hatchery and wild Chinook and diet over different temporal scales. This research will describe hatchery impacts on wild Chinook and aid improve understanding of Chinook habitat usage throughout the Fraser estuary.

Faculty Supervisor:

Scott Hinch

Student:

Partner:

Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Other services (except public administration); Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: