Ecological implications of changing hatchery practices for Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea
Abstract For over a century, hatchery programs have been used to subsidize natural salmon populations in order to increase fisheries opportunities and, more recently, to conserve declining natural populations. While an extensive literature has described the impacts of large‐scale hatchery operations...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2019-11-01
|
| Series: | Ecosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2922 |
| _version_ | 1819080356809146368 |
|---|---|
| author | Benjamin W. Nelson Andrew O. Shelton Joseph H. Anderson Michael J. Ford Eric J. Ward |
| author_facet | Benjamin W. Nelson Andrew O. Shelton Joseph H. Anderson Michael J. Ford Eric J. Ward |
| author_sort | Benjamin W. Nelson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract For over a century, hatchery programs have been used to subsidize natural salmon populations in order to increase fisheries opportunities and, more recently, to conserve declining natural populations. While an extensive literature has described the impacts of large‐scale hatchery operations on freshwater ecosystems, less attention has been given to ecosystem interactions within the marine environment. We analyzed records of hatchery‐released Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea to assess temporal and spatial changes in hatchery practices since 1950, with the goal of identifying potential implications for ecosystem dynamics and conservation efforts in the region. Over the past 65 yr, we found significant changes in the size and time at which juvenile salmon are released, resulting in decreased diversity of these traits. Research suggests that predation on juvenile salmon by other fish, avian, and marine mammal species could be size‐dependent, and our results indicate that current hatchery practices are releasing Chinook salmon in the size range preferred by these predators. With current marine survival rates at chronically low levels, and increasing demand for hatchery subsidies, it is important to consider how modifying existing hatchery programs intended to reduce homogenization may promote more natural marine food web dynamics, with potential benefits to both hatchery and natural Chinook populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:43:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f940b5844a5d4e46ab95e2a0cfde9c8b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:43:35Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-f940b5844a5d4e46ab95e2a0cfde9c8b2022-12-21T18:52:23ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252019-11-011011n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.2922Ecological implications of changing hatchery practices for Chinook salmon in the Salish SeaBenjamin W. Nelson0Andrew O. Shelton1Joseph H. Anderson2Michael J. Ford3Eric J. Ward4Contractor to the Northwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle Washington 98112 USANorthwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle Washington 98112 USAWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife P.O. Box 43200 Olympia Washington 98504‐3200 USANorthwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle Washington 98112 USANorthwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle Washington 98112 USAAbstract For over a century, hatchery programs have been used to subsidize natural salmon populations in order to increase fisheries opportunities and, more recently, to conserve declining natural populations. While an extensive literature has described the impacts of large‐scale hatchery operations on freshwater ecosystems, less attention has been given to ecosystem interactions within the marine environment. We analyzed records of hatchery‐released Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea to assess temporal and spatial changes in hatchery practices since 1950, with the goal of identifying potential implications for ecosystem dynamics and conservation efforts in the region. Over the past 65 yr, we found significant changes in the size and time at which juvenile salmon are released, resulting in decreased diversity of these traits. Research suggests that predation on juvenile salmon by other fish, avian, and marine mammal species could be size‐dependent, and our results indicate that current hatchery practices are releasing Chinook salmon in the size range preferred by these predators. With current marine survival rates at chronically low levels, and increasing demand for hatchery subsidies, it is important to consider how modifying existing hatchery programs intended to reduce homogenization may promote more natural marine food web dynamics, with potential benefits to both hatchery and natural Chinook populations.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2922aquacultureChinook salmonhatcheriespredationsize‐selective |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin W. Nelson Andrew O. Shelton Joseph H. Anderson Michael J. Ford Eric J. Ward Ecological implications of changing hatchery practices for Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea Ecosphere aquaculture Chinook salmon hatcheries predation size‐selective |
| title | Ecological implications of changing hatchery practices for Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea |
| title_full | Ecological implications of changing hatchery practices for Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea |
| title_fullStr | Ecological implications of changing hatchery practices for Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological implications of changing hatchery practices for Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea |
| title_short | Ecological implications of changing hatchery practices for Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea |
| title_sort | ecological implications of changing hatchery practices for chinook salmon in the salish sea |
| topic | aquaculture Chinook salmon hatcheries predation size‐selective |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2922 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benjaminwnelson ecologicalimplicationsofchanginghatcherypracticesforchinooksalmoninthesalishsea AT andrewoshelton ecologicalimplicationsofchanginghatcherypracticesforchinooksalmoninthesalishsea AT josephhanderson ecologicalimplicationsofchanginghatcherypracticesforchinooksalmoninthesalishsea AT michaeljford ecologicalimplicationsofchanginghatcherypracticesforchinooksalmoninthesalishsea AT ericjward ecologicalimplicationsofchanginghatcherypracticesforchinooksalmoninthesalishsea |