Assessing the feasibility of native fish reintroductions: A framework applied to threatened bull trout

North American Journal of Fisheries Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

Translocations to recover native fishes have resulted in mixed success. One reason for the failure of these actions is inadequate assessments of their feasibility prior to implementation. Here, we provide a framework developed to assess the feasibility of one type of translocation—reintroduction. The framework was founded on two simple components of feasibility: the potential for recipient habitats to support a reintroduction and the potential of available donor populations to support a reintroduction. Within each component, we developed a series of key questions. The final assessment was based on a scoring system that incorporated consideration of uncertainty in available information. The result was a simple yet transparent system for assessing reintroduction feasibility that can be rapidly applied in practice. We applied this assessment framework to the potential reintroduction of threatened bull trout Salvelinus confluentus into the Clackamas River, Oregon. In this case, the assessment suggested that the degree of feasibility for reintroduction was high based on the potential of recipient habitats and available donor populations. The assessment did not provide a comprehensive treatment of all possible factors that would drive an actual decision to implement a reintroduction, but it did provide a fundamental level of feasibility assessment that is often lacking in practice.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Assessing the feasibility of native fish reintroductions: A framework applied to threatened bull trout
Series title North American Journal of Fisheries Management
DOI 10.1080/02755947.2011.559830
Volume 31
Issue 1
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Publisher location New York, NY
Contributing office(s) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Description 10 p.
First page 106
Last page 115
Country United States
State Oregon
Other Geospatial Clackamas River
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