columbia river basin fish and wildlife program annual ...

5.15.1 KNOWN STOCK FISHERIES FIVE-YEAR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM(Co-Fund to Test Electrophoresis: Begin 1985 Ocean Fishing Season orSubsequent Seasons>503(b)(l)The Council supports in-season management of mixed-stockfisheries using electrophoresis to profile the contribution ofthe different upriver stocks. BPA shall share funding with thefishery management agencies of a five-year program thatdemonstrates the effectiveness of this technique in profilingthe ocean fisheries more accurately and in refining harvestregulations to protect Columbia River stocks. At the conclusionof the five-year program, the fishery management agencies willpropose a plan for further action.ACTION ITEM ACTIVITY SUMMARY:Objectives:To demonstrate the effectiveness of the electrophoresis technique forprofiling the contribution of individual Columbia River stocks inmixed populations.Background and Progress to Date:Plans:Projects:BPA contributed funds to a study to perfect the electrophoresistechnique to differentiate fish stocks and to demonstrate itsapplicability in the Columbia River Basin (Project 79-l). BPA fundedfurther application of this technique (Project 83-451) to determineseparate stocks of Columbia Basin anadromous fish. These efforts andthose of the fishery management entities have produced a provenelectrophoresis technique. This technique is now widely applied infisheries management and could be applied to profile mixed stockocean fisheries. The technique may also soon be used to determinewhether sturgeon populations in the United States stretches of theKootenai River are different from those in Canadian waters. BPAtherefore believes that further research to improve stockidentification methods as part of a hydroelectric mitigation programis unnecessary. Stock identification is now a matter of prescriptiveapplication.BPA has no further plans for this Action Item.None.1 1 9