Our work on BC steelhead smolt migration and survival, in collaboration with one of BC’s eminent steelhead biologists, Bruce Ward (BC MoE), is particularly extensive. We have broadly expanded the populations under study and the first video below shows an overview of the movement of all study populations.
Of particular note is our collaborations with the Seymour Steelhead Society & Dr Shannon Balfry of UBC; we have been conducting nested statistical trials of (a) the efficacy of vaccinating smolts against marine viruses and (b) transporting smolts out beyond the river mouth before releasing them (Read Paper). The second animation below shows the comparative movements of the smolts subjected to various medical treatments. We show in the paper that observed survival was increased many times by vaccination and barging.
BC Steelhead Migrations 2004-2009
Seymour Steelhead (2009 – Vaccine & Barge Trials)