Bull Trout Translocations

Conservation efforts for imperiled fishes in western North America have included numerous translocations utilizing a number of different strategies. The goal has generally been to increase population size and dispersion while maintaining genetic diversity, thus increasing probability of survival. The bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) is a federally-listed species with a widespread but declining distribution in western North America.  Primary limiting factors that have led to the contraction of the species’ range include: fisheries management; non-native species; and habitat degradation, fragmentation and isolation caused by dams, forest management, livestock grazing, agriculture practices, and transportation networks. While the federal draft recovery plan for the species acknowledges that recovery of the species will likely require translocations into historical habitat, few have occurred since the species was listed in 1999. Furthermore, although translocations have played an important role in the conservation and recovery of other federally-listed species, it is unclear, given the lack of documented successful translocations of bull trout, the feasibility of wide-spread translocations as a recovery tool for this species. This talk will provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on bull trout translocations, including introductions, reintroductions, supplementation programs, captive rearing, and artificial propagation.