Declining productivity of many Chinook and Coho salmon populations has led to the increased use of catch-and-release measures in recreational fisheries management. However, much of the research that informs post-release survival estimates are based on short-term holding studies that fail to test longer-term survival and survival in a natural environment. In this four-year study, adult Chinook and Coho were captured using a set of common sport-fishing methods as they enter the Salish Sea on their return migration. The fish were exposed to air for predetermined periods of time to simulate typical air exposure by anglers, and then tagged with acoustic tags to measure their survival after release as they migrate over the acoustic array.
Another goal of this study is to provide insight into the availability of these fish as prey for the southern resident killer whales.
The projects are led by Dr. Scott Hinch and his students at the University of British Columbia Pacific Salmon Lab .
Organizations that maintain the acoustic receivers used in this project include Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Kintama Research Services, Ocean Networks Canada, NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, the Ocean Tracking Network, the Juanes Lab at the University of Victoria, and the Hinch Lab at the University of British Columbia.
After you access the animation, there are several pre-defined display options available under the Case menu including some that display the genetic stock identification (Representative Unit (RU)).
Dynamic animation for 100 Chinook captured and released in Juan de Fuca Strait in 2019. Access the animation here.
Dynamic animation for 179 Chinook captured and released in the Discovery Islands, and for 49 Chinook and 179 Coho captured and released in Juan de Fuca Strait in 2020. Access the animation here.
Dynamic animation for 199 Chinook captured and released in the Discovery Islands, and for 201 Coho captured and released in Juan de Fuca Strait in 2021. Access the animation here.
Dynamic animation for 2022. Animation is not available yet.