[ODFW-News] Volunteers needed for broodstock collection

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Information and Education 503-947-6002	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  
	

For Immediate Release	Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 

Volunteers needed for broodstock collection

GOLD BEACH - Anglers and other interested individuals can help collect
fall chinook salmon broodstock for the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife's STEP program on the Chetco River in Brookings. 

Each year ODFW, the Oregon South Coast Fishermen and Brookings-area
volunteers collect 300 adult fall chinook to maintain the Chetco
hatchery fishery. Fish are spawned and reared to smolt stage at Elk
River Hatchery and 50,000 smolts are released into the Chetco the
following year. After spending two to six years in the ocean, about
1,000 to 3,000 chinook return as adults for angler harvest.             
                                    

"This program depends on volunteer involvement to ensure we meet our
production needs for the Chetco River hatchery program," said John
Weber, ODFW STEP biologist. "We welcome all the help we can get."

Fish will be collected at Tide Rock and Morris hole until late
November. The first broodstock collection is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.,
Oct. 21 at Tide Rock. Due to weather, there is no set schedule for the
remainder of the broodstock collection season. 

Interested volunteers should call Weber at 541-247-7605 for more
information.

Attention Media: A jpg photo of department employees and volunteers
collecting broodstock is available.

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