200311400: An Acoustic Tracking Array for Studying Ocean Survival and Movements of Columbia River Salmon (POST) David Welch.

200311400: An Acoustic Tracking Array for Studying Ocean Survival and

Movements of Columbia River Salmon (POST)

David Welch

Goals of the POST Project A permanent continental-scale array

Directly measure movement, distribution and survival of fish-including salmon- in continental shelf waters

Develop the ability to follow individual fish– or separate

stocks – for decades.

(Expand the scientific observations to encompass a much wider range of oceanographic observations)

POST’s Objectives

1,550 kms N-S

2004 & 2005 POST Tagging

2005 POST Tagging

POST Team at Work

POST Team at Work

Deployment of Listening Lines

Deployment of pop-up moorings with receivers & acoustic releases

POST’s 2004-05 Field Seasons

Deployed 120 km of acoustic listening lines (135

seabed nodes)

Ran array for 5 months (April-Sept. 2004 & 2005)

Both freshwater & marine lines

Measured population-specific residence time &

speed of movement

Measured fish survival directly (never before done

on this scale-- and the real reason for all the work)

Progress in Year 22004 2005

8 River Systems 16 River Systems

14 salmon stocks tagged 19 salmon stocks tagged

1,051 smolts tagged >2,700 smolts tagged (+257%)

91% detection rate in ocean (10 out of every 11 fish detected per line)

95.5% detection rate in ocean (19 out of every 20 fish detected per line)

Established movements Established movements

Measured marine survival Measured marine survival

What POST Added in 2005

(Field Season)

Developed (& validate) long-lived underwater modem units (3 field trials) Establish deployment technology for these units Validated Satellite-Linked Units working in Fraser River (Real-time fish management) (Improved on 2004 detection rate of 91%)

2004 vs 2005 Array Recovery Rates

-129 -128.5 -128 -127.5 -127 -126.5 -126 -125.5 -125 -124.5 -124 -123.5 -123 -122.5

47.5

48

48.5

49

49.5

50

50.5

51

26/26: 26/26

Keogh RiverNimpkish River

Brooks Peninsula

N Strait of Georgia

26/26: 26/26

Howe Sound

Fraser River

Juan de Fuca

Cape Elizabeth

5/8:8/8

19/26: 20/26

QCS

7/12: 11/12

July:Sept 2004

Sept-Oct 2005

14/16

2004 vs 2005 Array Recovery Rates

-129 -128.5 -128 -127.5 -127 -126.5 -126 -125.5 -125 -124.5 -124 -123.5 -123 -122.5

47.5

48

48.5

49

49.5

50

50.5

51

26/26: 26/26 | 26/26

Keogh RiverNimpkish River

Brooks Peninsula

N Strait of Georgia

26/26: 26/26 | 26/26

Howe Sound

Fraser River

Juan de Fuca

Cape Elizabeth

5/8:8/8

19/26: 20/26 | 25/26

QCS

7/12: 11/12 8/12: 5/6

July:Sept 2004

5/8

Sept-Oct 2005 (Plus 3 from last year!)

14/16 | 16/16

BC Salmon Survival to River Exit (Comparison with Columbia R)

Fraser River

Stocks

Sch

reck

200

3-04

Sn

ake

R C

hin

oo

k st

ud

y

Sch

reck

200

3-04

Sn

ake

R S

teel

hea

d s

tud

y

BC Salmon Freshwater & Marine Survival–Error Bars (2 SE)

(Carl Schreck’s 2003-04 Snake R Chinook & Steelhead study)

Snake River Spring Chinook, 2005

(Dworshak/Kooskia Hatchery)

198 Snake R chinook surgically implanted at Kooskia Hatchery, May 2005

No compatible array at mouth of Columbia River this year

Partial listening line at Cape Elisabeth/Greys Harbor Multiple listening lines further north

Snake River Spring Chinook, 2005

- Animation

Snake River Spring Chinook, 2005

- Results• POST tagged Snake River smolts migrated north at 20-25 kms/day (about 2 body lengths a second)

• Detected on shelf as far offshore as we had equipment

• Survival from Bonneville to N Vancouver Island was probably 15% (1 in 7 fish)

• Survival to adult return from 1977-98 was ~0.5%

• This suggests that only 1 in 30 Snake R chinook reaching Vancouver Island will survive to return

2. Differences in Migration Routes-

Queen Charlotte Strait Listening Line

2004

Tag

Det

ectio

ns-QCS

0510

1520

25

1

3

5

7

9

1113

1517

1921

Senso

r Num

ber

Detec

tions

CULTUS LAKE S

OCKEYE

2. Differences in Migration Routes-

Queen Charlotte Strait Listening Line2004 Tag Detections-QCS

05

10152025

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

Sensor NumberD

etec

tion

s

CULTUS LAKE SOCKEYE

2004 Tag Detections-QCS

0

100

200

300

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

Sensor Number

Det

ecti

ons

SAKINAW LAKE SOCKEYE

Cultus Lake Sockeye (2005)

0

50

100

150

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

Det

ecti

ons

Cultus & Sakinaw Lake Sockeye (2005)

0

50

100

150

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

Sensor Number

Det

ecti

ons

Where POST is Going: Final Testing of Modem-Equipped Sub-Array

Howe Sound Testing Sub-Array

Sakinaw Sockeye release site

Cultus Sockeye release site

1 4

1 3 4 10

Where POST is Going:

Current Testing Phase: Rivers

Satellite-Linked Acoustic Sensors Above water antennae allows tagged smolts to email their departure times (and survival!) Ability to measure survival out of large riversTwo beta-test units deployed in the mouth of the Fraser River Antennae and surface floats for marine component of array is unrealistic

Where POST is Going:

Longer-Term PlansIn the Near Term:Modem-Equipped Tracking Sensors - Provide 5-7 Yr Projected Lifespan - Ability to provide year-round fish

Survival data Migration pathways Timing of migrations Accurate return forecasts?

In the Long-Term:Modem-Equipped Ocean Observing Systems Provide:

Fish Tracking Sensor Temp, Salinity, Currents Fish, plankton abundance… … And how they determine

Columbia salmon survival???

POST’s Findings:

I. The ocean migration behaviour of different salmon species is not the same

II. There are differences in migration pathways (speed, route, distribution) of different populations of the same species

III. There may even differences between hatchery & wild fish from the same genetic stock

A Personal Perspective on Freshwater & Ocean Studies on Salmon

• Columbia R in-river survival “seem” reasonable (to me) • Adult chinook returns from the ocean are unreasonable (~0.5% vs the 2-4% needed) • These differences are evident in BC as well • We need to understand ocean survival so we

can determine what freshwater changes are important- and can be manipulated

successfully • POST can inform that process

Where POST is Going:

Summary

A permanent tracking system for salmon and other marine animals is now feasible•For young salmon, 4 mo~2 year tags are feasible•For larger animals, tags can have 10-20 yr lifespans•A complete census of fish (salmon & sturgeon) moving in & out of large rivers is now feasible•A wide range of other ocean sensors can be supported off this observation system.•Ocean survival can now be measured directly

Where is POST Going?

POST 2004-2005

POST 2010