Conservation and Management of Kokanee, the Little Oncorhynchus nerka, in an Altered and Changing Landscape

Unlike their anadromous counterpart, sockeye salmon, kokanee have been successfully introduced into lake systems within and outside of their native distribution, making for a mix of both native and introduced populations.  Many populations of kokanee have a high recreational value and/or forage value for other fish species, and as a resident ecotype of O. nerka are generally at greater inherent risk of being impacted by human perturbations than their anadromous-ecotype.  Questions concerning which populations within their native range we should make efforts to conserve can be difficult to answer because of their broad distribution, their successful introduction outside of their native range, and their perceived value to the taxon relative to sockeye salmon.  The management of populations of interest can also be difficult due to the challenges of addressing human-caused habitat loss and/or degradation and nonnative species introductions.     

With this symposium, we are interested in exploring the question of kokanee conservation across its native and introduced range and presenting management strategies and techniques being proposed or implemented to overcome current and possible future challenges in conserving and restoring kokanee populations for both recreational purposes and species conservation.