snɬuxwqnm (Castlegar), Syilx Territory: The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) is calling all anglers to support suppression efforts of Northern Pike. We request that all anglers catching Northern Pike in the nx̌ʷntk’ʷitkʷ (Columbia River), including the Pend d’Oreille, Kootenay, Columbia and Kettle Rivers report these catches to Evan Smith, ONA biologist: esmith@syilx.org, who also has more details.
Howie Wright, ONA Fisheries manager stated that “Northern Pike are known to have major impacts on aquatic ecosystems which includes current salmon returning to the Okanagan system and undoubtedly future salmon restoration efforts in the Upper Columbia. It’s important our programs continue to suppress and monitor.”
Signing up for this program will require information such as your catch including the date and location of capture, as well as length, weight, and photo of the catch that includes a date stamp and a locally recognized landmark. These reports greatly contribute to further Northern Pike suppression and monitoring efforts in the Columbia — as a large, adult female pike can produce upwards of a quarter million eggs in a year. Anglers who partake and submit information will be put into a draw for $200, $100, or $50 Canadian Tire gift certificate at the end of the season in December 2021.
The ONA launched its Northern Pike suppression program in 2018 and continues to implement its program in suppression and monitoring of invasive Northern Pike in the Columbia. Our suppression efforts focus on pre-spawn adults in spring, and adult, juveniles and young-of-the-year. Capturing pre-spawn adults is an effective method of suppressing the population. In 2020 at least 144 pike were effectively removed from the Lower Columbia River and Pend d’Oreille River.
Funders of the Northern Pike Suppression Program include: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Columbian Basin Trust, Teck, Fortis, FWCP, and BC Hydro.
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Detected in 2010 in the Columbia River in Castlegar, Northern Pike are suspected of originating from Montana and migrating downstream through the Pend d’Oreille system. Established populations now exist in the Robson Reach and the Kootenay River confluence areas, as well as downstream throughout Lake Roosevelt. They have been documented moving further downstream in the Columbia each year. For more information on the ONA’s Northern Pike Suppression program please visit: www.syilx.org/projects/lower-columbia-river-pike-suppression/
For More Information Contact:
Michael Zimmer, ONA Biologist
T 250 304 7341 E mzimmer@syilx.org