Routine Use of Sterile Fish in Salmonid Sport Fisheries

Abstract Since 1997, Idaho Department of Fish and Game hatchery and research personnel have worked cooperatively to develop a sterile trout program with the primary goals of protecting the genetic integrity of native stocks while continuing to supply hatchery-reared trout for harvest-oriented anglers. Results of recent field evaluations of sterile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) demonstrate that they provide recreational fisheries of equal or superior quality to normal diploid fish when stocked as catchables in streams or as fingerlings in productive lentic systems. Our preliminary evaluations suggest that use of sterile trout in high mountain lakes may require stocking adjustments or may eventually prove problematic because of lower survival rates. Sterile trout eggs can be readily purchased from commercial sources or produced from agency broodstocks with nominal equipment and manpower costs. To gain a better understanding of sterile fish use by other agencies, we conducted a U.S. state phone survey ...