OHRC Operational and Applied Research Plan

Transcription

1 OHRC Operational and Applied Research Plan Introduction The Oregon Hatchery Research Center (OHRC) is a unique facility for cooperative research between the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the Oregon State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. The facility is located on Fall Creek, in the Alsea Basin. The mission of the Oregon Hatchery Research Center is to: 1) Develop an understanding of the mechanisms that may create differences between hatchery and wild fish. 2) Devise ways to manage the differences to meet fishery and conservation objectives. 3) Help Oregonians understand the role and performance of hatcheries in responsibly using and protecting Oregon s native fishes. To accomplish the mission, the OHRC shall have two tiers of research plans. Under Tier One, advanced scientific research shall be reviewed and conducted to understand the fundamentals of the mechanisms that may create differences between wild and hatchery fish. Under Tier Two, operational and applied research shall be reviewed and conducted to develop improved fish culture and release practices in consideration of the differences between wild and hatchery fish. Research Facilities at OHRC 1) Four artificial streams 2) Four standard concrete raceways 3) Forty-four fiberglass tanks 4) Analytical lab 5) Wet lab including heated, chilled, filtered and UV treated water 6) Located on Fall Creek for comparative research 1

2 OHRC Research Goals Research will provide information that: 1) Is consistent with the Native Fish Conservation Policy and the Fish Hatchery Management Policy and promotes the responsible use of hatchery fish to support viable populations of wild fish and sustain sport, commercial and tribal fisheries. 2) Increases our understanding of biological/physiological processes and identifies how this information can be used to manage animals, facilities, and/or the field of fisheries as a whole. 3) Identifies hatchery practices that minimize the impact of hatchery facilities on the natural environment. 4) Develops new techniques and technologies to assist in the use of fish culture for conservation and recovery. Operational and Applied Research The OHRC has activities recognized as Education and Outreach, Operations, and Research. The existing review procedures of the Strategic Research Plan are used to consider research activities. Types of research that will reviewed and considered for Operational and Applied Research may include, but are not limited to: 1) Developing improved fish breeding, culture and release practices which may improve post release survival and minimize impacts on wild stocks. 2) Researching the production methods and fitness of triploid fish for use in conservation programs. 3) Identifying marking techniques that can be used in studies of natural spawning behavior of hatchery fish, migration, mortality, etc. 4) Conducting experiments on fish transportation to minimize stress and improve holding and post-release survival. 5) Developing standard protocols for novel methods of disease diagnosis, treatment, vaccine development, anesthesia, surgery, etc. 2

3 Research results may be published in peer reviewed journal and/or internal reports, and workshop and conference presentations. Operational and Applied Research Review and Approval Procedures Research proposals can be submitted at any time for consideration. Proposals shall be submitted to the OHRC Facility Manager and the Senior Scientist in the first instance. Individuals or groups interested in conducting research at the Center are strongly encouraged to initiate discussions with the Senior Scientist, the Facility Manager and appropriate ODFW and Oregon State University personnel. The Senior Scientist will review each proposal together with OHRC Facility Manager, ODFW Mid Coast Watershed District staff, ODFW Conservation and Recovery Program Manager, ODFW Fish Stock Assessment Biologist, ODFW Fish Biometrician, ODFW Fish Propagation Program Manager and Assistant Program Manager, ODFW Fish Propagation Biologist, ODFW Senior Fish Health Specialist and appropriate Regional Hatchery Coordinator. The Senior Scientist will bring each proposal to the Advisory Committee, a fifteen member public review committee, with a recommendation for further consideration or rejection. The Advisory Committee, acting through the Research Sub-Committee (a small group of the Advisory Committee selected to review research proposals), will review each proposal and the accompanying recommendation of the Senior Scientist. The Advisory Committee will inform the Senior Scientist of their recommendations on each proposal, and will discuss these with the Senior Scientist to reach a final decision on each proposal. The operational and applied research proposals must satisfy all the following requirements before they can be considered for implementation at the OHRC: 1) Animal Care and Fish Health All research proposals must satisfy the appropriate review panel(s) for care, holding, transportation and treatment of animals and follow appropriate standard operating procedures. 3

4 All proposals must be reviewed by ODFW Fish Health Services, and appropriate measure will be taken to avoid contamination of other stocks at the facility, pathogen amplification, transmission, etc. All state and federal rules and regulations must be followed while using chemicals and drugs for disinfection and/or disease treatment. 2) Funding Funding to support the proposed research must be identified in the research proposal. Funding may be in the form of fish feed and supplies and/or staff time. If fish health exams are to be performed frequently or on large numbers of fish, funds must be identified to cover travel and staff time. 3) Facility Availability and Access Approval of specific research projects will require close consultation with the Senior Scientist, Facility Manager and the Advisory Committee to ensure that space and facilities will be available for the proposed research. Timing and length of the proposal will be coordinated with other ongoing projects. For the best utilization of the facilities, collaborative research programs are always encouraged. 4

5 Operational-Applied Research Proposal Review Procedure I. Submission of Proposal by Applicant to Facility Manager and Senior Scientist, OHRC II. Consideration, Review and Comment on proposal by OHRC Facility Manager, Senior Scientist (and if deemed necessary by the Senior Scientist, will also be done by a selection of some or all of the following: ODFW Mid Coast Watershed District staff, ODFW Conservation and Recovery Program Manager, ODFW Fish Stock Assessment Biologist, ODFW Fish Biometrician, ODFW Fish Propagation Program Manager and Assistant Program Manager, ODFW Fish Propagation Biologist, ODFW Senior Fish Health Specialist and appropriate Regional Hatchery Coordinator) within 30 days of submission III. Forward research proposal by Senior Scientist to Research Sub- Committee of OHRC Advisory Committee for review if deemed necessary by the Senior Scientist. IV. If Step III is taken, comments from Research Sub-Committee to Senior Scientist and Facility Manager V. If Step III is taken, discussion and consensus between Research Sub- Committee, Senior Scientist and Facility Manager to reach a final decision on proposal VI. Decision will be communicated from Senior Scientist to OHRC Advisory Committee For Information VII. Communication of decision to research applicant by Senior Scientist VIII. A decision on a research proposal will normally be reached within 60 days of initial submission. 5

6 The following scoring and review process will be applied to all Operation and Applied Research Proposals. Review Operational and Applied Research Proposals will be judged by the following Criteria. As much as possible, research proposals will be scored as positive or negative for each criterion. The conclusion will be a simple sum of positive and negative scores. Depending on that combination of scores and priorities, the decision can be made to reject the proposal and not proceed. Decision Matrix Table Criterion Item Positive Negative Comment 1 Research Mission 2 Research Goals 3 ODFW proposal 4 OSU FW proposal 5 Funding (feed, supplies, fish, staff) 6 Animal Care/Fish Health (approval/review) 7 Space & facilities, ODFW personnel available (schedule/timing) 8 Practicality (possibly useful at other facilities) 9 Collaboration: (complimentarily with other projects) 10 Summary Presentation Plan (Publication, internal report, Conference/workshop, etc) 6