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Local hatchery report: grant denial, filtration needs, telemetry trial and controversy over egg culling
Summary
A commission staff member reported that a grant application was declined, described a filtration need at the county egg hatchery, summarized a transmitter trial in which 49 of 50 tagged yearlings reached a downstream receiver, and raised concerns about California Department of Fish and Wildlife culling and tribal distribution practices
A staff member who manages hatchery work (identified in the meeting as "Joe") reported to the Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission that the commission’s recent grant proposal was declined and that the hatchery faces operational challenges including turbid intake water that may require a filtration system.
"We actually got the letter from department stating that our, grant proposal has been declined," the staff member said, describing the notification and confusion about who authored and signed the letter. He said the hatchery will resubmit an application.
On operations and production, the staff member said the facility hatched eggs from three staggered batches and reported a high hatch success rate: "all the eggs are hatched. We had a very high success rate probably around 90 fifth 95, 96 percent," he said. He described daily tank cleaning and feeding demands and said the hatchery will likely transfer yearlings to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Warm Springs for imprinting and later release.
Telemetry trial and costs
The staff member described a telemetry experiment in which 50 yearlings carried active transmitters. He said 49 of the 50 tagged fish were detected at a downstream receiver near Hillsborough. He told commissioners the transmitters cost about $200 each and that the 50‑fish experiment cost roughly $10,000; the plan is to expand to 100 transmitters next year if funding allows.
Return numbers and tags
The hatchery reported an early run of returning adult fish: 764 returns so far this season, compared with 273 last year. The staff member said some returning fish carry floy (coded) tags that allow hatchery staff to identify and process returning fish: "We spawned both of them. We took them down to Kaminsky Station... They both came back today." He described record size fish returning this season, including a 34‑inch specimen.
Culling, tribal distribution and staff concerns
The staff member criticized what he described as routine culling of fertilized eggs at larger state facilities and raised concern about recent practices of distributing unspawned adult fish to tribal groups. He described a video titled "Unspawned" and said giving adult fish to tribes without spawning them "is disturbing" and has prompted pushback among front‑line hatchery staff. He urged public awareness and discussion of hatchery policies.
Why it matters: The report touches on operational funding, hatchery capacity, telemetry research that informs survival estimates, and contested state hatchery practices that affect how fertilized eggs and adult fish are handled. These issues affect local imprinting, release schedules and regional propagation efforts.
Next steps and follow‑up
The staff member said he will pursue another grant application, scan and post materials online for the commission and continue the telemetry work if funds permit. Commissioners asked about alternative marking systems and telemetry expansion; no formal vote or policy change was recorded at the meeting.
Ending
Commissioners discussed resubmitting funding requests and asked staff to share telemetry and hatchery cost details; the meeting record shows interest in follow‑up but no formal action at this session.
