Kitoi Bay Hatchery (KBH) Update for 2-13-15
Permanent Staffing: Drew Aro (Vacation), Randy Mason, Rian Hilsdorf, Mike Wachter
(Vacation), Kyle Nemecek, Chet Thomas, Chuck Jorgensen, Bill Probst.
Seasonal Staffing: Tina Scharf, Kelsey Webb, Lisa Jorgensen, Marina Thomas, Amanda Dye.
Water Temperatures: Big Kitoi Lake, Deep Water (65’ deep) 2.1°C (35.8°F), Big Kitoi Lake,
Shallow Water (5’ deep) 1.9°C (35.4°F), Kitoi Bay (3’ deep) 4.5°C (40.1°F).
This is the second week of chum outmigration/ponding. We ponded 4 net pens and we are over
the halfway mark now with 7 of the 12 pens full. On Friday, we started the first of the six the
Late Large Chum net pens. These chums will be held and fed around 14 days longer than the
regular release to help increase adult returns. The otolith of this group of fish is marked with a
different code than the regular release so we can analyze the otoliths from the adults to
determine if the late large program is a success. A last sample of yolks showed that lot 8, 10, 12,
and 14 were at 2.97, 2.91, 4.19, and 3.75% respectively. This shows that all the remaining fish
are underneath the 5% threshold so we can non-volitionally pond them. We anticipate on
ponding the remaining 5 pens next week and be completed with chums on the 20 th. This is a
week earlier then when we normally start to load the first pens.
Pink yolk samples were also checked this week. Lots 2, 7, and 12 were 4.92, 5.87, and 7.66%.
We are nearing the start of pink outmigration/ponding. After the chum’s are completed next
week, the week of the 23rd, we will start loading pink pens. Since BY1999, the earliest pinks to
outmigrate to saltwater was March 11th (BY2002). We will start loading our first pen February
23rd, which is two and a half weeks earlier than ever before. They have been increasing in
activity in the incubators, although they are not causing any problems normally associated with
this activity.
BY14 Sockeyes completed hatch and staff cleaned the incubators and added saddles to them.
They had a 95.97% survival from eyed egg until hatch with a current live alevin count of
741,071 fish, which is very good. Looking forward to our annual Fall Outstocking to Little Kitoi
Lake, with an estimated survival of 97%, we will be tentatively placing around 63,000 sockeyes
into the lake. While still maintaining out 655,000 fish in the raceways to over winter at the
hatchery until the spring transfer, we will be placing more fish in the fall than we have in recent
years due to good survival.
A barge on 2-12 delivered pink, chum, and the coho medicated feed. The BY13 coho’s that have
BKD (bacterial kidney disease), were treated for the first time on 2-13. With most medicated
feed, palatability of the feed can be subpar, but the coho’s enjoyed the feed which was a
surprise. This is a good indicator that the coho’s will be able to consume the medicine and cure
the disease so they have a better chance at surviving in the wild after release.
Earlier over the weekend, we had 15 inches of snow. This was our first large snowfall of the
year, but did not stop our seasoned and experienced Fisheries Technicians on feeding Chums!
Extracting the yolk sac (yellow) from a Pink Fry to determine percentage left in the body and to
anticipate outmigration.