Biologists Study Impacts Of Juvenile Steelhead Release Methods In Methow, Connection To Adult Return

Further proof hatchery steelhead suck.

Their research suggests that juvenile hatchery steelhead that fail to emigrate of their own volition tend to hang out in the stream as “residual” hatchery steelhead, crowding and competing for food in the stream they share with wild steelhead that are often listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Their conclusion is that it is better not to release these fish into the native stream at all.

LINK (via: CBB Bulletin)

Comments

[Randy]

I have read the same findings on every river that Bonkers have been placed in. So is it the 196th report that makes a difference? Can Fish and Game read? I think they actually hate this stuff because it just screws up what they really want to be. Giant crappy fish farmers.

[AKPM]

Of course hatchery steelhead stick around, if rainbows are large and well fed in the first couple years of life they will not go to the ocean. Going to the ocean is a product of environment, not necessarily genetics.