Kokanee

Kokanee are land locked Sockeye salmon. They were first discovered spawning in Kootenay National Park in 1984 when a fisherman spotted one in the Simpson River and reported it to Brian Sheehan (now retired park warden).
The following year thousands were observed spawning in the Kootenay River and by 1997 an aerial survey estimated nearly 500,000 spawners in the upper Kootenay River and tributary streams that flow into the Koocanusa reservoir.

Kokanee were introduced into Koocanusa reservoir in the late 1970's and have developed into an international fishery as well as a primary food source for bull trout. Now we know the effects of the bottled Kokanee but there are still questions as to what effect these introduced Kokanee Salmon have on the park's native fish and other wildlife.

Posted on 01 de janeiro de 2020, 02:46 AM by larryhalverson