Sockeye salmon numbers highest in nearly 6 decades at central Idaho's Redfish Lake

Published January 08, 2015

More endangered sockeye salmon have made the 900-mile journey from the Pacific Ocean to central Idaho's high-elevation Redfish Lake this fall than in any previous year going back nearly six decades.

Some 1,400 fish have returned so far from a population that in the 1990s bumped along with one and sometimes no fish returning, ultimately becoming the focus of an intense state and federal effort to prevent the unique population from extinction.

Now, fishery managers even envision a potential sport and tribal fishery being discussed within a decade due to extra fish.

Jeff Heindel of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game says more wild sockeye salmon are making it back and a new hatchery facility will more than double production over the next several years.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/sockeye-salmon-numbers-highest-in-nearly-6-decades-at-central-idahos-redfish-lake