Operational Plan for the Restoration of Diadromous Fishes to the ...

Objective 3: Discontinue supplementation in sub-drainages meeting Objective 1
measures (Table 1). Stocking should be halted at the earliest point possible to
encourage re-population by wild fish. By year 40, all salmon will be of wild origin.
• Evaluate using stocking records/recommendations.
� Strategy- Develop a plan for success- how and when to
stop stocking. This must be peer-reviewed and should
be a central tenet of the salmon program in Maine.
Constantly assess populations to determine if stocking is
warranted under this plan.
� Develop explicit adaptive management plan to halt
stocking based on Table 1 measures.
Objective 4: Achieve self-sustaining smolt to adult return rates within five years of a
sub-drainage achieving 20 % of Objective 1 measures for hatchery and wild fish
combined (Table 1). Also assess hatchery-derived smolt to adult return rates that
could lead to self-sustaining populations. Use trapping facilities to assess smolt to
adult return rates.
• Measure 4a: Estimate required return rates for self-sustaining
population annually based on population data and PVA model.
� Strategy- use modeling to set targets with uncertainty. Test
models against empirical data as they become available.
Adjust models as needed to improve target(s).
• Measure 4b: Return rates based on marked groups at Veazie and/or
Milford
� Strategy- stock marked smolts and set up proper sampling
scheme to assess return rates of hatchery fish. Compare to
wild. Adapt as necessary to improve. Change rearing
regime/environment, stocking methods (timing etc.).
• Measure 4c: Naturally reared return rates
� Strategy- Estimate natural return rates via juvenile or smolt
assessments and returning adult census (trap or redd
counts). Use data from un-dammed rivers to augment our
understanding. Test against rates needed for recovery. Use
information to address habitat/environment issues.
• Measure 4d: Smolt to adult return rates (SAR)
o Stocked above one dam
o SAR based on stocking location
� Strategy- Assess smolt return rates in relation to stocking
location and dams. Identify opportunities (promising return
rates) and problems (return rates that are unlikely to yield
recovery). Aggressively pursue proactive management in
promising areas and identify limiting factors in problem
areas. Shift resources away from problem areas until
limiting factors have been addressed.
• Measure 4e: Number of returns to Weldon as a proportion of what is
stocked upstream.
PRFP Page 183