Survival and Dispersal of Sonic‐Tagged, Hatchery‐Reared Burbot Released into the Kootenay River

• Published in: Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
• Main Authors: Stephenson, Sarah M., Neufeld, Matthew D., Ireland, Susan C., Young, Shawn, Hardy, Ryan S., Rust, Pete
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2013
• Subjects: Burbot; Lota lota; lota
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00028487.2013.774293; https://afspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00028487.2013.774293

Abstract As part of recovery efforts for the Kootenay population of Burbot Lota lota , we monitored 109 sonic‐tagged, hatchery‐reared Burbot released at 1–3 years of age throughout Kootenay Lake and the Kootenay River over a 3‐year period. Our objectives were to evaluate broodstock choice, assess differences in survival and dispersal by release site and age, and evaluate spawning movements. Overall, release survival was high (66%) and there was dispersal throughout the system (up to 235 km), involving both lacustrine and riverine habitat. Spawning movements were extensive (up to 59 km/d upstream) and suggest the use of known spawning locations. However, most age‐1 releases had lower survival and remained in the release tributaries for 1 year postrelease, which was longer than expected and which warrants further investigation. Overall, this telemetry study provides a positive outlook on the current aquaculture rehabilitation efforts for Kootenay Burbot and provides direction for further work.