From 2015 through 2019, Salmon Coast Field Station collaborated with Nimmo Bay Resort to collect samples from local salmon populations to use for genetic analysis.

Catch, Clip, Release Program

From 2015 through 2019, Salmon Coast Field Station collaborated with Nimmo Bay Resort to collect samples from local salmon populations to use for genetic analysis.

Salmon are distributed throughout the many streams in the Great Bear Rainforest. In these streams are many slightly distinct populations within the species. Each population of salmon, no matter how small, has the potential to contain genetic variation and adaptations that could potentially increase productivity and resilience of salmon as a whole along the coast. Due to the remote location, this collection of populations and their adaptations has historically been undocumented or unstudied.

The Catch, Clip, Release program started as a thesis project by Salmon Coaster Mack Bartlett, and developed into a citizen-science program conducted with community partners throughout the region. The goal of the project was to build a salmon genetics baseline to help guide future research and conservation efforts.

As the majority of the river systems are very remote and difficult to access, the program relied on the volunteerism of helicopter-assisted fishing guides. This was made possible through our partnership with Nimmo Bay. As the fly-fishing guides fished with their guests, they collected a single fin clip from their catch, retained this sample for genetic analysis, and released the salmon back to the river. These samples were sent to a molecular genetics lab for analysis, which allowed us to build a library of diversity for each species within each river.

During the program’s operation, over 3,000 samples were collected, and analysis revealed new information about the salmon in the area.

For example, samples collected in 2015 and 2016 showed that the coho that return to the Wakeman River each year are genetically distinct from the rest of the coho in Fisheries Management Area 12. The samples showed they are more closely related to the fish of the Central Coast. This data set will continue to be used to guide research and management decisions within the area. As salmon populations continue to face significant challenges, this information will be even more vital.

Find out more about our work by checking out our regular reports and related publications

Check out our sea lice reports for each year, which provide detailed information on the year’s monitoring findings.

View our complete list of publications for many more articles based on sea lice research conducted at Salmon Coast.

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