Difference between revisions of "Anadromous Fishes of California's Central Coast Region"

Revision as of 09:22, 8 April 2020

An environmental summary created by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

Anadromy

Fish that are anadromous migrate into rivers an streams to spawn.

Salmonids

There are three species of salmonids found in the CCC Region: Rainbow trout, Coho Salmon, and Chinook Salmon. Declines in their populations from human development, fishing pressure, and climate change has necessitated state and federal recovery plans to ensure their conservation.^[1] Chinook salmon are encountered by commercial and recreational ocean fisherpeople during periods of a given year, however, there are no known naturally reproducing populations of Chinook salmon in CCC region watersheds.

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon, commonly referred to as Silver salmon, are among the most resilient of the Pacific salmon species and are observed to spawn (reproduce) in streams as far south as Aptos Creek in Santa Cruz County, CA. In the Central Coast Region there are seven populations of Coho salmon, all of which are found in the northern section of the region.

Rainbow trout

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have the greatest migratory diversity of any salmonid.^[2] Many population in the CCC Region are composed of both anadromous and non-anadromous individuals, making management and conservation in the region challenging. When rainbow trout do not migrate to the ocean as juveniles and remain in freshwater they are described as resident rainbow trout. Rainbow trout that migrate to the ocean as juveniles and return to freshwater as adults to spawn are described as Steelhead or Steelhead trout. Though juvenile fish from multiple populations may enter the ocean from the region's numerous coastal streams, adaptations enable many of these steelhead to return and spawn in the same stream where they were born. Over many generations, this has resulted in subtle differences between populations from different sections of the California coast.

The CCC Region is a section of California's coast where multiple of these distinct population groups overlap. These groups are collectively called [[distinct population segments (DPS) evolutionary significant units (ESU),

Additionally, there are three DPS

Species Distributions in the CCCR ^[3]

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon (Onchorhynchus tshawyatscha) are commonly called king salmon, and support substantial commercial and recreational (sport) fishing industries on the California coast. Anthropocentric factors have lead to a decrease in their abundance and diversity throughout California, with most individuals in remaining populations being of hatchery origin.

While there are no spawning populations of Chinook salmon in the CCC region, the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project (MBSTP) participates in an annual stocking program with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to support local fishing industries. Juvenile salmon are transported (trucked) from Central Valley (Sacramento River Watershed) fish hatcheries to Monterey Bay and released as part of a state-wide hatchery supplementation strategy to abate fishing pressures on threatened and endangered stocks, and promote economic stability in local coastal communities.

Other Anadromous Species

Pacific Lamprey

Armored Threespine Stickleback

Striped Bass

References

1. ↑ California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Salmon and Steelhead. Ocean Protection Council. [accessed 2020 Apr 8. http://www.opc.ca.gov/2009/05/salmon-and-steelhead/. ]
2. ↑ Barnhart R. 1986. Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Pacific southwest) -- steelhead. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 82(11.60). United States Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. 21 pp.
3. ↑ [1]

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.