STATUS OF ANADROMOUS SALMON AND TROUT IN BRITISH-COLUMBIA AND YUKON

Using fisheries agency databases and files, we assembled a summary dat abase on the status of anadromous salmon stocks (genus Oncorhynchus) f rom British Columbia and Yukon streams. We then collected supplementar y information by circulating the database among fisheries professional s and interest groups throughout British Columbia and thus identified 9,662 anadromous salmon stocks. These stocks included 866 chinook, 1,6 25 chum, 2,594 coho, 2,169 Fink, 917 sockeye, 867 steelhead and 612 se a-run cutthroat trout stocks. We assessed the status of anadromous sto cks by employing a classification scheme similar to that of Nehlsen et al. (1991). Assessments were possible for 5,487 (57%) of all stocks a nd included all large, commercially important stocks. The assessments found 624 stocks were at high risk, 78 were at moderate risk, 230 were of special concern, and 142 were extirpates in this century. We were unable to classify 4,172 (43%) of the stocks because of an absence of reliable data. Due to their small size, these stocks are not of great commercial importance, although they are important to the maintenance of salmonid diversity. We also identified many potential threats to an adromous salmon stocks. The absence of systematic, high-quality assess ments at the biological stock level precluded reliable assignment of t he specific causes for many of the stocks apparently al risk. Neverthe less, habitat degradation associated with logging, urbanization, and h ydropower development contributed to most of the 142 documented stock extinctions. Furthermore, there is little doubt that overutilization b y commercial and recreational fisheries has in many cases resulted in severe stock depressions that, when added to other factors, has put ma ny stocks at risk.