Why Did the Hot Creek Hatchery Dump Trout Eggs?

December 18, 2008

Question:Is it true that Hot Creek Hatchery was dumping trout eggs recently? If so, was it due to the recent lawsuit prohibiting stocking in so many of the state’s lakes and streams? Were these eggs now surplus? Does this action indicate that DFG will now be producing less hatchery fish in anticipation of lower trout planting levels in 2009? (Bill K.)

Answer: According to Senior Hatchery Supervisor Gary Williams, Hot Creek Hatchery staff did discard some trout eggs recently that would not be utilized, but it had nothing to do with the recent lawsuit. It is standard practice in our trout hatcheries to carry fish over each year to become future broodstock when ready. We do not usually start spawning the broodstock females until they are ready, which is age three. The two-year-olds will also produce eggs but their eggs are usually not viable. In addition, while some two-year-old fish will reabsorb their unused eggs, others will die if they are not stripped of their non-viable eggs. So as a precaution, staff routinely strip these young fish of their eggs in order to reduce the mortality for this age class and assure they will survive to successfully spawn as broodstock the next year. This is a routine practice at the hatcheries carried out in good years and in bad to assure that broodstock will be available for the following year.