Evaluation of Exploitation as a Means of Improving Growth in a Stunted Population of Brook Trout
- 1 May 1989
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in North American Journal of Fisheries Management
- Vol. 9 (2) , 177-183
- https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8675(1989)009<0177:eoeaam>2.3.co;2
Abstract
The stunted population of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in Olive Lake, British Columbia, was exploited at an annual rate of 20% fishing mortality for 3 years in an attempt to improve growth rates. In response to this exploitation, the age-frequency distribution shifted from old to younger fish, and the mean weight of all age-classes increased. Maximum weight of brook trout increased from 68 to 158 g (N = 40 and 134, respectively). Recruitment also increased; consequently, the population density and biomass remained at about 750 fish/hectare and 30 kg/ hectare. Thus, growth of brook trout increased when the density of the older cohort of fish was reduced, although the total density of the population did not change significantly.Keywords
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