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Division: Sport Fish
Title: Ninilchik River Chinook salmon assessment, 2001
Author: Balland, D. T., and R. N. Begich
Year: 2007
Report ID: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 07-60, Anchorage.
Abstract: During 2001, wild (naturally-produced) and stocked Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha runs to the Ninilchik River were passed through a weir and censused to determine the stock composition of total escapements and if Chinook salmon stray to the Ninilchik River from three Chinook salmon stocking locations in Kachemak Bay. A random sample of sport harvested Chinook salmon was also examined for an adipose finclip to estimate the stock composition of the harvest sampled each weekend in the lower Ninilchik River, below the Sterling Highway. The escapement of wild Chinook salmon was 1,239 fish in 2001, or 70% of the escapement. Escapement of stocked fish was 543. Stock composition of the immigration varied significantly over the duration of the run to the weir. The mid-point date of immigration to the weir for wild fish was July 13, and July 21 for stocked fish. The age class composition of the wild Chinook salmon escapement was comprised of 45% (SE = 3%) 2-ocean, followed by 3-ocean (39%, SE = 3%), and 4-ocean (15%, SE = 2%). The stocked Chinook salmon escapement consisted of 40% (SE = 5%) 3-ocean, 39% (SE = 4%) 2-ocean and 14% (SE = 4%) 4-ocean. From the 130 Chinook salmon that were sacrificed at the weir, 125 coded wire tags were decoded. No strays of stocked Chinook salmon from Kachemak Bay were detected. The overall contribution of stocked Chinook salmon to the sport harvest sampled in the lower river was 51% (SE = 4%), ranging from 42% to 62% of the harvested fish. Continuing the Chinook salmon assessment at the Ninilchik River weir is recommended to fully understand run-timing characteristics and contribution to the sport harvest of hatchery runs so that any annual surpluses of stocked Chinook salmon can be more fully utilized by anglers.
Keywords: Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, Ninilchik River, wild, hatchery, run, escapement, weir, contribution, adipose finclip, and coded wire tag.