7890

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7890
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Region 6, Fish and Wildlife Service Guidelines Directing Captive Propagation Of Listed And Candidate Fish.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

other planning documents. •
SPAWNING. INCUBATION AND REARING
Identify and characterize the culture parameters needed to allow the species to reproduce and
grow, including spawning and rearing methods used and rearing conditions, equipment, and
techniques utilized to fulfill the hatchery culture program for early life stages and
broodstock. Injection procedures and schedules, hormones, and anesthetics need to be
documented. Additionally, egg and milt processing, egg enumeration, chemical treatments,
temperature data, and incubation procedures should be described. Pertinent_.information such
as female size, volume of eggs, egg size, total egg number, eggs per female;per cent hatch,
fry size, stocking densities, and survival should be noted. Any other incubation and rearing
characteristics need to be documented, as necessary.
SURROGATE SPECIES
Many listed and candidate species have related species that are very similar in many respects,
such as taxonomy, morphology, physiology, behavior, food habits, and habitat. They may
exhibit very similar genetic profiles, and frequently hybridize. Hybridization could present a
threat to the survival of related species through genetic swamping if the hybrids are fertile,
and through competition for a limited habitat. These close relationships have lead many
experts to conclude that the more abundant species can be used as a surrogate species when
conducting nutritional, rearing, spawning, handling and other cultural trials; thus, eliminating
the need to jeopardize the less abundant species. Methods tested and proven on the surrogate
species must then be phased in on the listed or candidate species.
INTRODUCTION AND MONITORING
An introduction section will be prepared when management determines that captive
propagation and introduction is necessary for the restoration or recovery of the species. The
Service will initiate the planning process for the management areas, and plan development
will be a cooperative partnership process between the Service, States, other federal agencies,
tribes, and private interest groups. The introduction section needs to be reviewed by the
restoration and recovery team and approved by the Regional Director. The team must
designate and prioritize specific stocking sites, and make recommendations on numbers,
timing, and sizes of fish to be stocked at any one of the specific sites (See Introduction
Guidelines).
All fish will be tagged or marked for later identification. Stocked areas will be assessed
(monitored) by management offices to determine survival, growth, movement, and habitat
selection, plus other attributes of the ecosystem such as relative abundance of other fish
species encountered and biological status of the target populations. This requires that the
population be described, indicating the general health or condition of the population, whether •