Re-introduction of Sockeye Salmon into Skaha Lake

1. Re-introduction of Sockeye Salmon into Skaha Lake Okanagan Nation Alliance Fisheries Department

2. Water Management Dams Agriculture and Urban Encroachment Channelization Vertical Drop Structures

3. CONSERVATION AND FISHING RIGHTS • Once supported year-round Okanagan anadromous and resident fisheries • A single viable population of sockeye is all that remains of the Okanagan salmon fishery • Remnant stocks of Chinook and Steelhead • Extirpation of salmon stocks - Coho, possibly Chum and Pink

4. Re-introduction of Sockeye • Return of the salmon and culture • Conservation for sockeye • Return to historic distribution • Ability to thermo-regulate, increasing adult over-summer survival • Access to additional spawning and rearing habitat

6. Project Development • Initiated by the Okanagan Nation in 1997 • Multi-agency workshop • Issues/concerns raised • Proposed Reintroduction into Okanagan L. -Skaha Lake selected as a pilot project • Project funded by Bonneville Power Administration (2000-2003)

7. .Vernon Okanagan L. Penticton . Skaha L. VaseuxL. Osoyoos L. Osoyoos .

8. Project Objectives • Disease Risk Assessment • Exotic Species Risk Assessment • Habitat Assessment • Develop Sockeye Life-cycle model • Experimental Design and Hypothesis Development • Develop Implementation Plan

9. Disease Risk Assessment - Results • IHNV type 1 - present • IHNV type 2 - absent • EIBS - present • IPNV - absent • Whirling Disease agent Ceratomyxosis - absent • Parvicapsula parasite– present in sockeye by molecular evidence (PCR technique)

10. Exotic Species Risk Assessment- Results Mysis shrimp, Yellow perch, Black bullhead, Smallmouth bass, Pumpkinseed, Eastern brook trout and Carp are distributed throughout the Basin.

11. Habitat Assessment - Results • Lake spawning habitat is marginal • Tributary spawning habitat is limited • Okanagan River spawning habitat limited • Rearing habitat - substantial increase

12. Life-Cycle Model Okanagan Sockeye and Skaha Kokanee benefit from mysid removal Okanagan Sockeye and Skaha Kokanee benefit from additional spawning habitat Reintroduction of sockeye fry up to 1000 fry/Ha has no effect on Kokanee survival (Skaha L. 2000 Ha)

13. Principles for Implementation • Sufficient data to evaluate effects of reintroduction • Reversible and acceptable level of potential impacts • Consider conservation risks to both sockeye and kokanee • Recognize need to balance risk of acting quickly or too slow

14. Implementation Objectives • Dual monitoring for reintroduction effects on kokanee and sockeye stocks • Sockeye fry-to-smolt and smolt-to-adult-return as good or better in Skaha L. as in Osoyoos L. • Monitoring and evaluation to provide direction for future re-introduction into Okanagan L.

15. Implementation Options Options developed by experts from DFO, WLAP, and ONAFD Identified Methods for Experimental Re-introduction: • Remove migration barriers • Trap and transport adults • Egg incubation and fry introduction

16. Remove all barriers • Low risk to sockeye • Risk to kokanee low (because of low SK spawners returning) • Disease risk potential (Parvicapsula) • Easy to reverse • Low learning potential (natural variability)

17. Trap and Transport • Risk to SK-less than option 1 as use only when escapement is high • Risk to KO- Dependent on how many introduced • Disease risk potential (Parvicapsula) • Reversible • Increased learning potential – known number going into Skaha but still dependent on natural variability. Uncertain fry production and thus poor experimental conditions

18. Egg Incubation and Fry Introduction • Low risk to SK- less SK broodstock required and known fry densities • No disease risk (Parvicapsula) - disinfect eggs • No risk to adult kokanee (spawning overlap) but potential risk to KO age 0+ fry as juvenile SK being planted • Increased learning potential – known number of fry, can be externally marked

19. Proposed Approach for Discussion • Years 1 - 10: Adult capture, egg incubation and fry release • Years 4 - 6: Mysis harvest after monitoring three years of juvenile growth rates at 0+ stage • Years 4 -10: Monitor migration behaviour between Osoyoos L and Skaha L. • Within the 10 years: Adult capture and release into Skaha L. • Year 10 - Evaluate decision to remove barriers to Skaha L. and begin evaluate reintroduction into Okanagan L.

20. Monitoring • Skaha L kokanee – hydroacoustic and trawl surveys, Age Structure, adult enumeration and biosampling • Skaha Sockeye Fry – fish culture facility (external ID marking), hydroacoustic and trawl survey, timing and age structure for sockeye smolts • Broodstock screening – continued monitoring of disease potential • Rearing Capacity: Monthly Chemical and physical limnology, zooplankton

21. Next Steps • Detailed Technical Implementation Plan for Year 1 • Policy discussion • Education and communication • Implementation arrangement • Application for funding • Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation

22. Ks p’el’k’stim ...to bring back... Balancing indigenous and western science to manage, protect and restore fisheries resources and aquatic habitat