So sad some folks become bitter, spiteful old men ... tit for tat on the laughing emojis, so mature!
Anyway, as I approach my 35th year as a professional fisheries biologist, the past 25+ solely on the conservation and protection of freshwater salmonid habitat and populations, I am no armchair bio and would wager I’ve spent more days on stream specifically studying, monitoring and interacting with these species and their ecosystems in the last decade alone, than the majority would in multiple lifetimes. I’ve conducted, monitored, observed and even investigated the harmful results of countless fish salvages. I could count on my hands the number of salvages and relocations that addressed all of the issues raised in these pro and con posts, the referenced article or countless other studies and operational guidelines rev salvage/handlin/relocation.
In the simplest of terms, unless you know what’s going on in the system wrt those issues, either the fish are fine because temp and DO are being maintained by ground/hypothetical flow (and thus the fish should be left), or DO and temps are significant issues, in which case the elevated stress hormones from handling under such conditions, the DO and temp issues w/ bucketing relocation, disease, parasite and fungus issues with handling at elevated temp and the shock of temp change at the (presumably) “better” (ie colder, higher DO saturation) receiving location. Again, the post focussed on the general public bucket brigade intending to help and pointed out, validly, the intended result is at best unknown and often detrimental.
I’ll add that some jurisdictions in BC are starting to clamp down on all fish salvages/relocations, not just bucket brigades (East Koots and Westslope Cutt populations as an example - as a result of a committee of very well respected and experienced gum boot biologists.)
Looking forward to my laughing emojis, think I’ve earned them!
Cheers!
Ukee