In May of 1991, the population of Redfish Lake sockeye salmon hovered on the brink of extinction when stories appeared in the media about “Lonesome Larry,” the single adult sockeye returning to Redfish Lake.
Center scientists, in collaboration with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and other partners, rescued and maintained remnants of the population to increase their numbers. For the past 30 years, scientists have been rearing fish in specialized freshwater and marine systems to ensure high survival and production of eggs, smolts, and pre-spawning adults.
Check out the photos from this past week during our latest transfer of sockeye from NWFSC's Manchester Research Station out to Idaho.
And, look back at how captive breeding rescued the Redfish Lake sockeye population: https://go.usa.gov/xMKMn
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