sly_karma
Crew Member
A fraction of historic numbers, but good to see nonetheless.
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/reelt...ia-river-sockeye-run-officially-a-new-record/
I was on a conference call last week with fish management officials from Washington hydro utilities, early indications are that two thirds of those fish are the Okanagan run. For those that think hatcheries don't work, consider that the current Okanagan hatchery fry release program comprises just 500,000 fish. You don't get 360,000 returners solely from a small program like that. The strong increases in wild returns in recent years are the real sign of hope. Of course the new hatchery project is still going ahead anyway, that will be complete in time to receive this year's spawners. 5 million fry released next spring will hopefully kick the Okanagan returns to a new level.
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/reelt...ia-river-sockeye-run-officially-a-new-record/
I was on a conference call last week with fish management officials from Washington hydro utilities, early indications are that two thirds of those fish are the Okanagan run. For those that think hatcheries don't work, consider that the current Okanagan hatchery fry release program comprises just 500,000 fish. You don't get 360,000 returners solely from a small program like that. The strong increases in wild returns in recent years are the real sign of hope. Of course the new hatchery project is still going ahead anyway, that will be complete in time to receive this year's spawners. 5 million fry released next spring will hopefully kick the Okanagan returns to a new level.
