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<br />Fish Needs bv Purpose and Species <br /> <br />Purp'lse <br /> <br />1. <br />2. <br />3. <br />4. <br /> <br />Refug i a <br />Research & Development <br />Information & Education <br />Augmentation & <br />Restoration Stocking <br /> <br />Razorback <br />sucker <br />X <br />X <br />X <br /> <br />X <br /> <br />Speci es <br />Bony tail Humpback <br />chub <br />X X <br />X <br />X X <br /> <br />X <br /> <br />Colorado <br />sauawfish <br />X <br />X <br />X <br /> <br />X <br /> <br />I. RefuQia. Refuges serve a vital function in maintaining and protecting <br />the genetic integrity of endangered fish and wildlife stocks. As wild <br />stocks decline, refuges not only provide safety to a part of the stock <br />but can be used to develop broodstocks. Endangered Colorado River fishe, <br />will be placed in refuges to prevent catastrophic losses of fish stocks. <br />and to develop broodstocks for priority species and stocks. An <br />appropriate breeding matrix will be used to maintain genetic diversity ~2 <br />closely as possible representing wild stocks. The initial target is to <br />obtain twenty-five (25) family lots for each broodstock that is <br />manageable in hatchery operations. Additional wild fish will be used <br />periodically to supplement the genetic diversity of the broodstock. <br />tndangered fish production that is surplus to broodstock development <br />should provide adequate numbers of fish for research and development <br />.:tudies as well as for information and education programs. Furthermore, <br />rroodstocks in refuges can be used to provide progeny for experimental <br />dugmentation and restoration stocking (Williamson I993). Refuges also <br />provide protection of fish stocks that may be at catastrophic risk. for <br />example, the humpback chub stocks in Black Rocks and Westwater Canyons or <br />the Upper Colorado River were considered to be at catastrophic risk frOl;, <br />"czardous materials if a train were to derail from the railroad track <br />L"at is located in these canyons. <br /> <br />2. Research and Development. Research and development are vital to provide <br />pertinent information for making intelligent Program decisions regarding <br />the implementation of actions to recover the endangered Colorado River <br />fishes. Research is done in a phased, logical manner to answer specific <br />questions, provide important information, or to evaluate experimental <br />efforts relative to implementation of specific recovery strategies. <br /> <br />Propagation is particularly important in providing experimental fish for <br />studies related to (1) development and improvement in breeding and <br />rearing practices, (2) identification of ecological requirements by life <br />stage, (3) interactions with non-native fishes, (4) homing (i .e., <br />olfaction and chemoreception studies), (5) habitat use, (6) fish passage, <br />(7) taxonomy, (8) anatomy, (9) physiology, and (10) development of <br />protocol for improving survival (i.e., successful stocking practices). <br /> <br />Various persons from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Utah Division of <br />Wildlife Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of <br /> <br />3 <br />