Relative Cost and Post‐Release Performance of Hatchery Catchable Rainbow Trout Grown to Two Target Sizes

Branigan, Philip R.; Meyer, Kevin A.; Cassinelli, John D.

doi:10.1002/fsh.10621

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…We found that stocking age-2 June sucker produced 65 times more recruits at a given investment (cost) than stocking age-1 individuals. This result is congruent with other cost benefit analyses for stocked fishes, which have shown distinct advantages for stocking larger fish (Wiley et al 1993;Eggold and Horms 2001;Branigan et al 2021). Although it is more expensive to raise June sucker to age-2, it appears that the survival advantage conferred by additional rearing time significantly outweighs the elevated cost, perhaps by reducing susceptibility to predation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Benefits of stocking fewer but larger individuals with implications for native fish recovery

Fonken¹,

Conner

Walsworth

et al. 2023

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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Artificial propagation is commonly used to reduce extinction risk for native, imperiled fish species. Thus, identifying stocking strategies that most effectively augment adult abundance is a critical aspect of successful adaptive management. The threatened June Sucker (Chasmistes liorus), endemic to Utah Lake, Utah, USA, experienced major declines in abundance following extensive ecosystem degredation. Over 800,000 June Sucker were stocked from hatcheries, grow-out ponds, and refuge populations from 1990-2019 across a range of sizes and seasons. Here, we evaluated post-stocking survival of June Sucker using a Cormack-Jolly-Seber Model with three covariates: size at stocking, origin, and season. Survival was positively correlated with size at stocking, with evidence of a possible size-selective predation threshold between 200-300mm, and spring stocking appeared to produce higher survival rates than summer or fall. We also compared cost and benefit for stocking hatchery origin June Sucker at different sizes, finding that stocking fewer, but larger (age-2) individuals was more cost-effective than stocking more, but smaller (age-1) individuals. Our results highlight operational changes that can help maximize efficacy of native fish hatchery programs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Benefits of stocking fewer but larger individuals with implications for native fish recovery

Fonken¹,

Conner

Walsworth

et al. 2023

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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“…Previous research from put‐and‐take trout fisheries has demonstrated a positive effect of fish length on return‐to‐creel rates (Cassinelli and Meyer 2018; Branigan et al. 2021) and angler satisfaction (Birdsong et al. 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…However, rearing of hatchery fish to catchable size is expensive, so efficiently allocating hatchery resources for optimal angler use and satisfaction is important (Branigan et al. 2021). Fisheries managers are therefore faced with decisions about stocking density, stocking frequency, and fish size.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Community fishing ponds are often stocked with catchable-sized trout (~250 mm) and are managed as put-and-take fisheries to provide instant harvest opportunities for anglers (Edwards 1984). However, rearing of hatchery fish to catchable size is expensive, so efficiently allocating hatchery resources for optimal angler use and satisfaction is important (Branigan et al 2021). Fisheries managers are therefore faced with decisions about stocking density, stocking frequency, and fish size.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of Bag Limits on Angler Harvest, Catch Rates, and Satisfaction at Put‐and‐Take Community Pond Fisheries

Chiaramonte

Meyer

2022

N American J Fish Manag

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Community pond fisheries are valuable recreational resources for anglers because of their ease of access and often‐regular stocking frequency. Effective management of these fisheries requires an understanding of how bag limits, stocking frequency, stocking density, and angler effort affect angler satisfaction and catch rates. We released tagged, catchable‐sized Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and conducted creel surveys at Idaho ponds with either two‐ or six‐trout daily bag limits (hereafter, “two‐trout ponds” and “six‐trout ponds”) to evaluate whether the bag limit affected catch rates between stocking events. Angler catch rates averaged 0.53 fish/h at two‐trout ponds and 0.76 fish/h at six‐trout ponds. Catch rates declined in the days after trout stocking but did so at similar rates in ponds with different bag limits. Catch rates were negatively affected by air temperatures throughout the study. Fifty‐four percent of anglers reported being somewhat satisfied or very satisfied with their fishing experience at two‐trout ponds compared to 64% of anglers at six‐trout ponds. This measure of satisfaction was positively related to an individual's catch rates. Despite the threefold difference in daily bag limits, 57% of anglers harvested two or fewer fish at six‐trout ponds. Angler‐reported tags indicated that stocked trout remained at large longer (mean = 29 d) in two‐trout ponds compared to six‐trout ponds (mean = 17 d). Tag returns suggested that on average, total use (harvested trout plus caught‐and‐released trout) was much higher at six‐trout ponds (57%) compared to two‐trout ponds (34%). Although the recruitment potential and accessibility of community ponds are well known, our results suggest that catch‐related outcomes of community pond management are a complex result of environmental factors, fisheries regulations, and fish stocking variables.

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“…Assessment of survival of stocked Rainbow Trout may aid in further refining the timing and amount of stocking needed to sustain the population at a desired abundance. Further, assessing the influence of stocking fewer but perhaps larger (in terms of mean length) Rainbow Trout to meet management goals may be warranted (Branigan et al 2021). Spatial variation in abundance of Brown Trout could be used to direct harvest rates along the river as angling pressure has historically not been distributed evenly along the Greers Ferry tailwater (Bowman et al 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trout Responses to Stocking Rates and River Discharge within a Southeastern U.S. Hydropeaking Tailwater

Spurgeon

Kaiser²,

Graham³

et al. 2022

N American J Fish Manag

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Freshwater fish populations often exist in systems characterized by novel ecological processes resulting from human alteration. Salmonid populations embedded within coldwater sections of warmwater rivers are spatially constrained by habitat availability. Tailwater fish contend with fluctuating river discharges and density-dependent processes associated with fish stocking and exploitation. Salmonid populations sustained through stocking versus natural reproduction may respond differently to changes in hydrologic patterns (e.g., hydropeaking) as well as declines in fish abundance. We assessed differences between stocked (Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss) and naturalized (Brown Trout Salmo trutta) trout populations in Greers Ferry tailwater, Arkansas, regarding (1) spatial and temporal patterns of mean length, electrofishing catch rates, and relative condition following reduced number of stocked Rainbow Trout and (2) evidence that hydrologic characteristics and fish stocking intensity influenced relative condition. A 56% reduction in Rainbow Trout stocking did not result in systemwide change in mean length or relative abundance for Rainbow Trout or Brown Trout over the 16-year study period. Hydrologic variability, where river discharge spanned both reduced and elevated levels, positively influenced condition of both Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. Assessment of survival of stocked Rainbow Trout may aid in further refining the timing and amount of stocking needed to sustain the population at a desired abundance. Further, assessing the influence of stocking fewer but perhaps larger (in terms of mean length) fish to meet management goals may be warranted. The persistent differences in relative abundance among river sections can inform management actions directed at Brown Trout, including harvest regulations. Such regulations may aid in reaching desired management goals, including abundance and mean length targets not observed after reduced stocking.Human alteration of riverine environments necessitates that fisheries managers work in systems with novel and often bounded ecosystem processes (Moyle 2014). Tailwaters, defined here as the area below impoundments characterized by hydrologic and thermal processes not persistent under unaltered river conditions, are one example of novel ecosystems that are managed to meet human needs, including for electric power production and recreational

show abstract

Relative Cost and Post‐Release Performance of Hatchery Catchable Rainbow Trout Grown to Two Target Sizes

Cited by 6 publications

References 39 publications

Benefits of stocking fewer but larger individuals with implications for native fish recovery

Benefits of stocking fewer but larger individuals with implications for native fish recovery

Effect of Bag Limits on Angler Harvest, Catch Rates, and Satisfaction at Put‐and‐Take Community Pond Fisheries

Trout Responses to Stocking Rates and River Discharge within a Southeastern U.S. Hydropeaking Tailwater

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