Southern Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program (S7)

NOAA Fisheries is issuing an Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement permit to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Ecology Division’s (SWFSC FED) for the continued operation of the Southern Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program (program) in coastal watersheds of the Santa Cruz Mountains, California. The program would authorize take of endangered Central California Coast (CCC) Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU) coho salmon and threatened CCC Distinct Population Segment (DPS) steelhead. Program activities include: (1) collection of natural-origin coho salmon from program streams for use as broodstock; (2) spawning of adult broodstock of mixed natural and hatchery origin; (3) rearing and release juvenile coho salmon to program streams; and (4) conducting genetic assessments and tagging of program fish for a period of 10 years. The program is jointly operated by SWFSC FED, the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The purpose of the program is to prevent further extirpation of critically imperiled CCC coho salmon populations in the Santa Cruz Mountains, enhance extant populations and local genetic diversity, and where possible, restore coho salmon to populations that are considered functionally extirpated. Implementation of these actions will be guided by a Hatchery Genetic Management Plan and by a technical advisory team consisting of staff from SWFSC FED, NOAA Fisheries, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.