What changes are proposed for Chinook salmon management, and what might be the potential impact on the fishery?
A. We recommend that the Chinook salmon stocking program be discontinued. The program has proven ineffective at increasing the number of Chinook salmon that anglers catch. Criteria developed in 1998 with significant public input state that the Chinook salmon stocking program would be discontinued if fewer than 75 disease-free pair of Chinook salmon return to the French River for three consecutive years. Returns in 2003-2005 have been just 13, 20 and 9 pairs respectively. Discontinuing the stocking program will have little noticeable impact by anglers participating in the fisheries. Stocking contributes very little to the summer sportfish catch in Minnesota, less than 5 percent, with around 95% of the Chinook salmon catch resulting from natural reproduction. Continued stocking is unnecessary and does not make effective use of limited funds.
