1. Objectives

As the proponents note, the vast majority of steelhead reared in the Columbia Basin are released as one-year old smolts. In nature, steelhead typically become smolts after 2 or 3 years of freshwater rearing. The proponents hypothesize that the high growth rates experienced by age-1 smolts likely contribute to maladaptive traits and may ultimately be responsible for reduced fitness in hatchery steelhead. The overarching goal of this project is to evaluate the genetic, physiological, and life history impacts of rearing one- and two-year-old steelhead smolts.

Eight clearly defined objectives that are quantifiable, testable, and relevant to the Council’s Program were developed to accomplish the project’s overall goal. These objectives led the proponents to: (a) compare the survival and migration rates of age-1 and age-2 steelhead smolts in the mainstem, (b) determine the percentage of released age-1 and age-2 smolts that residualize in freshwater, (c) evaluate the ecological effects of residual steelhead produced from both types of smolts on natural steelhead populations, (d) assess the smoltification status of each type of smolt via saltwater challenges, (e) compare the reproductive fitness of adults produced from age-1 and age-2 smolts in an observation stream, (f) determine the breeding success of mature residual males produced from age-2 smolts, (g) evaluate possible epigenetic effects on gamete quality in male and female steelhead produced from age-1 and age-2 hatchery smolts, and (i) develop a life cycle model that compares the survival of age-1 and age-2 smolts at four periods in the life cycle—from hatchery release to spawning adult. Each of these objectives has clearly defined end dates.

The 2018 research narrative and annual reports are organized around hypotheses that address the critical uncertainties listed in the Council’s Uncertainties Database. The emphasis on addressing uncertainties in the research narrative is appreciated by the ISAB/RP. Explicitly listing null hypotheses to be tested experimentally also helps to track and evaluate progress.

2. Methods

Annual reports and the project’s peer-reviewed publications indicate that appropriate experimental designs and statistical analyses are being employed. Additionally, innovative behavioral and physiological assays are being used by the project to address its objectives.

3. Results

Experiments have been successfully conducted to meet the project’s objectives and test hypotheses. Critical uncertainties in the Council’s 2017 Research Plan were carefully linked to the project’s objectives. Additionally, suggestions on the how the project could, with added resources or supplemental data, provide additional information related to these uncertainties were also made.

The project is evaluating questions that are designed to help improve the artificial culture of steelhead. Results to date have indicated that natural origin broodstock can be used, that it is possible to rear and release age-2 smolts on a production basis, and that clear differences exist in the behavior, survival, and physiology of age-1 and age-2 steelhead smolts and in the adults produced from those smolts. All these results are directly related to how steelhead hatcheries could be managed in the future. An example of how the results of this study may guide future hatchery operations is the suggestion that hatcheries should be using natural origin broodstock and rearing and releasing both age-1 and age-2 smolts. The proponents report that fish destined to smolt at age 1 or 2 can be separated soon after ponding, making it possible for facilities to segregate and rear fish smolting at these two different ages.

However, one possible consequence of releasing age-1 and age-2 smolts that was not addressed in the research narrative or annual reports is the possible effect that this strategy may have on the overall fecundity of an integrated population. Adults originating from age-2 smolts typically return as adults after only 1 year at sea whereas age-1 smolts generally spend 2 years at sea. This difference in marine age would presumably cause females originating from age-2 smolts to be smaller, and to possibly have smaller or fewer eggs than those produced from age-1 females. Would such differences affect the overall productivity of an integrated hatchery population that released age-1 and age-2 smolts? The benefits of releasing both age-1 and age-2 smolts will be evaluated over the next several years at the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery.

Project results and key findings have been published in the peer-reviewed literature, in annual reports, and presented at conferences as well as in presentations to the Council.

4. 2017 Research Plan uncertainties validation

The Council’s 2017 Research Plan’s database indicates that the project is directly assessing Fish Propagation uncertainties 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.5 as well as potentially providing data and information on three (1.1, 1.2, and 3.6) uncertainties in the Population Structure and Diversity category. The proponent’s narrative shows how their project is providing information on all these uncertainties.

Comment:

A long-standing challenge in the Basin and elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest has been how to best use hatcheries in steelhead conservation and supplementation programs. Results from numerous studies have indicated that steelhead exposed to standard hatchery practices experience morphological, behavioral, physiological, and genetic changes. This inadvertent domestication has reduced the value of using hatcheries as a conservation tool for steelhead recovery. Mainly, this is because when allowed to spawn under natural conditions, hatchery-origin fish and their offspring have reduced fitness when compared with natural counterparts.

This project is designed to provide information on whether hatchery culture coupled with natural steelhead growth patterns, behavior, and physiology, can limit domestication effects. The central approach presented in the proposal (i.e., the separation of slow-growing and fast-growing juveniles at an early age into age-2 and age-1 smolts) represents a substantial shift from standard practices. The comprehensive assessments and experiments described in the proposal will help determine the usefulness of this approach. Importantly too, the project will help elucidate the mechanisms responsible for domestication and provide insights into how or whether inadvertent domestication can be alleviated when steelhead are artificially reared.

1. Objectives, Significance to Regional Programs, and Technical Background

This project has three clearly described implementation objectives: (1) improve survival and reduce fitness loss, (2) reduce domestication selection, and (3) optimize hatchery steelhead programs through the use of natural origin broodstock.

The proponents are examining ways to reduce the effects of domestication by altering rearing procedures and choice of broodstock. Current investigations are evaluating the benefits and risks associated with rearing and releasing age-1 and age-2 steelhead smolts. Splitting of juveniles into these two rearing trajectories is based on broodstock maturation timing, hatchery thermal regimes, and the early growth patterns of juveniles. It is hypothesized that such splits will reduce residualism, precocious maturation, and generally reduce inadvertent domestication. A suite of laboratory and field studies are proposed to identify the underlying causes of domestication and help determine whether it can be reduced by management actions. If these approaches are shown to be effective, that could substantially change how steelhead are bred, reared, and released from the Basin's hatcheries and elsewhere.

Timelines for completion of studies, evaluations, and results are provided. Results will become available over the next several years. A production-scale study that releases age-1 and age-2 steelhead smolts began in 2018 at the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery. Rates of smoltification, precocious development, and survival through the Columbia River will be compared in release years 2020-2023. SARs and an examination of the effects of smolt age on fecundity will be assessed as adults from the rearing treatments return to the hatchery.

The objectives and anticipated results of the project coincide with a number of the goals presented in the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program.

2. Results and Adaptive Management

Investigations carried out by the project have been successfully completed. Results to date have shown that: (a) natural-origin steelhead can be used as broodstock in hatchery programs, (b) a hatchery can rear and release age-2 steelhead smolts on a production basis, and (c) differences exist in the post-release survival, behavior, physiology, and marine age, in age-1 and age-2 smolts and the adults produced from these fish. The proponents have linked their proposed studies directly to uncertainties in the Fish Propagation (uncertainties 1.1., 1.2, 1.3, and 1.5) and indirectly to uncertainties in the Population Structure and Diversity (1.1, 1.2., and 3.6) categories in the Council's 2017 Research Plan.

The project has revealed both biological benefits and costs associated with releasing age-1 versus age-2 smolts. Although migration speed and survival through the mainstem was higher, precocious maturation was more prevalent in age-2 than age-1 smolts. Age-2 smolts had substantially higher survival rates in sea-water challenge tests suggesting they were more highly smoltified than age-1 smolts. Consequently, it is likely that age-2 smolts achieve higher survivals during the freshwater/seawater transition period in the estuary. On the other hand, adult males produced from age-1 smolts were more aggressive and produced more offspring than males originating from age-2 smolts. The proposal provides a comprehensive overview of these and other project findings and indicates how project results and data have informed their future work plans.

The proponent's studies are directed toward upper Columbia summer steelhead. However, the methods and findings produced from the study will be of interest to all who culture and release steelhead, whether within or outside of the Columbia River Basin.

Results of the project have been presented at conferences, to the Council, and in the peer-reviewed literature.

3. Methods: Project Relationships, Work Types, and Deliverables

The proposal describes the studies and methods that will be used to complete the project's six deliverables. Linkages between the deliverables and the project's three overarching objectives are shown. Citations to the PNAMP methods that will be used to complete each deliverable are clearly delineated. Monitoring and evaluation protocols are in place to determine if the project is completing deliverables as planned.

Hypotheses directly linked to uncertainties in the Council's 2017 Research Plan are presented. Work that the project has completed relating to each of these hypotheses is described along with the future actions that will be used to test each hypothesis. Completion dates for when the work will be completed are generally described in the proposal. Peer-reviewed publications have been produced by the project and several are currently under review. It is anticipated that new findings from the project will be shared via presentations and additional publications.

The project would no longer address captive broodstocks of endangered Chinook, and the ISRP assumes that the earlier work of the project has been wound down or wound up—but it’s not explicit in the proposal. The previous work has had a considerable influence on hatchery management due to the project’s timely, rigorous record of reporting results. By investigating a radical change in historical salmon hatchery practice—production of older, age 2 smolts—in an effort to integrate hatchery populations with natural populations in a way that minimizes effects on natural populations this research would make a useful contribution to hatchery reform. However, as the ISRP noted in its 2007 review, an array of incrementally achievable improvements of fitness over traditional hatchery methods may not add up to a workable strategy for restoration through integrated hatchery programs. The proposed research would not be a holistic examination of hatchery reform. Such incremental improvements of fitness in hatchery-origin salmon might not ameliorate, and indeed might exacerbate, detrimental effects on naturally reproducing populations, such as the effects described on coastal Oregon coho in Biol. Conserv. 142:2249. What would be the improvement in survival likely to be realized from this reformed practice? Would it have practical benefit? 1. Technical Justification, Program Significance and Consistency, and Project Relationships The project's components are being proposed within the context of hatchery reform. The project's three primary objectives are focused on research aimed at comparing the efficacy and effectiveness of steelhead smolts released in their second year (S2) as opposed to current approaches that release smolts in their first year (S1). The objectives focus on relative fitness responses, domestication, and physiology. The proposed work is at an operational scale will benefit from collaboration and cost-sharing with USFWS (WNFH), USGS, and NOAA (NWFSC/MS). The coordination, collaboration, and cost-sharing with other agencies and participants are an important requirement for the success of this project's broader goals and individual work elements. For example, a key part of evaluating the relative performance of the S2 v. S1 strategies is the mark and recapture monitoring by collaborators. As the proponents note coordination with Project 201003300 in particular will be crucial to the success of this research. 2. Project History and Results Previous work undertaken within the project has had considerable influence on hatchery management due to its strong record of reporting results. The project reports consistent annual accomplishments providing information aimed at the key uncertainties identified for the project. The proposed work would change the project to focus on hatchery culture of steelhead, under a new team of researchers. 3. Objectives, Work Elements, and Methods The project identifies three primary objectives 1) testing the efficacy/effectiveness of S2 smolts for increasing population fitness; 2) evaluating suites of behavioral traits altered by domestication; and 3) evaluating physiological indicators for abundances of precocial males. Each of the three have been often identified as important and are consistent with identified RPAs; however, the proposers do not make the case that these are the only or most important uncertainties for the role of integrated supplementation in UCB steelhead conservation, restoration, and management. Omitted in the design is the inclusion of some kind of "wild" production reference. The ISRP recognizes the complexity and technical challenges such inclusion would require, yet for some of the data sets including such a reference set would be appropriate (e.g., age-dependent growth, residualism rates, smolt age patterns, jacking rates, and such).

1. Deliverable Title: Improve survival and reduce fitness loss in Columbia River steelhead smolts (Winthrop National Fish Hatchery Experiment). 

These data will be publically available through the PITAGIS website (www.ptagis.org/ptagis/index.jsp).

2. Deliverable Title: Identify behavioral and physiological traits under selection through laboratory-scale research. 

These data will be generated from laboratory-scale experiments.  Raw and synthesized data will be stored in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets maintained on personal computers operated by NOAA scientists.  There is currently no public repository for this type of data.  However, the data can be made available through a request to the project lead.

3. Deliverable Title: Validate endocrine and genomic markers.

These data will be generated from laboratory-scale experiments.  Raw and synthesized data will be stored in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets maintained on personal computers operated by NOAA scientists.  There is currently no public repository for this type of data.  However, the data can be made available through a request to the project lead.

Our intention is to publish synthesized data generated from each work element in the peer-reviewed literature.  As such it will be electronically available.  Additional data will be contained in technical project annual reports which will be electronically available through BPA websites (https://efw.bpa.gov/IntegratedFWP/technicalreports.asp).