Catching Salmon Smolts — Effective use of Rotary Screw Traps in Rivers – Online – November 6th, 2024

Rotary screw traps (AKA ‘smolt wheels’) are a commonly used and valuable fish collection method for species and life stages not readily captured using other methods. Indeed, this is the standard form of fish capture for small (<20 cm) migratory fishes in moving water, particularly for salmonid smolts but also non-salmonids. Effectiveness of these wheels, however, depends very much on selection of site and operation of the method through the deployment period. While being the ‘gold standard’ sampling method for migratory species, rotary screw traps require a significant investment in time, money, and logistics; therefore in using this capture method project managers want to ensure that they are collecting the highest quality and maximal data that they can. This microcourse is designed to assist those responsible for capturing small migratory fishes with meeting that goal.

 This MicroCourse will review rotary screw traps: what they are; how to use safely; information that can be collected using them; and will then discuss various issues, limitations, and constraints associated with using these. Students will then be able to balance the advantages (high quality data) with the challenges of a successful smolt wheel program.

This MicroCourse is intended for field staff responsible for deploying and monitoring wheels and also for project managers that are looking for other fish collection tools to be able to improve the quality of work they offer their clients.

Course will be 4 hours long.