Moyie Lake Stock Status

1. Moyie Lake Stock Status • Multiple years of sampling to mark and recapture individuals completed between 2006 and 2008 • Despite significant effort, population estimates were not as precise as hoped - Peterson and Jolly-Seber estimates showed significant differences for the same time periods • A small number of marked fish recaptured, insufficient mixing of tags between samples for Peterson estimates, and potential trap avoidance for Jolly-Seber estimates were potential problems • Given the constraints noted above, we evaluated all the data and established a population estimate that reflected the most likely compromise. • Population assessments suggest a population size of ~ 2500-4000 in both basins of Moyie Lake combined. • North Moyie – 1500 to 2500 adult burbot • South Moyie – 1000 to 1200 adult burbot

2. Moyie Lake Angler Use • fishery almost entirely through ice • used trail cameras and angler interviews to track effort in 2007 and 2008 • Significant change in timing and location of angler effort in 2008 • Fishery was “discovered” in 2008, with effort on spawning concentrations during the daylight hours with significantly higher catch rates 2008 2007

3. Moyie Lake – Creel Survey and Fishery Management • Fishery impacts could be a concern in this developing fishery and are being tracked. • 2007 - caught 515, harvested 168 • 2008 – caught 1089, harvested 360 (may be an under-estimate of both effort and catch) • Based on population estimates, this represents an annual exploitation rate of 14-24% • Modeling of the historic Balfour burbot population suggests exploitation rates of 20% may have been sustainable for that population • New regulations are being implemented this winter (time period closure) to allow some recreational opportunity, reduce the possibility for over-harvest, and limit the exposure of spawning congregations to recreational angling

4. Moyie Lake Burbot Biology • Moyie Lake spawning locations identified in 2008 (creel info suggests spawning as early as the last week of January, and as late as the last week of February) • KTOI and MoE staff completed two trips to Moyie, the first we identified spawning sites, while the second was targeted on collecting gametes for fish culture activities • We were successful in collecting sperm (50+ samples in one day) and KTOI staff established high motility using extender after 1 week. • Although one ripe female was collected on the first trip, none were collected when we attempted to collect gametes on the second trip • New capture methods will be employed in 2009 when we again attempt to provide gametes and should improve our catch of females

5. Moyie Lake Burbot Biology • Spawning congregation observed on Moyie Lake – Spring 2008

6. Turning the Tides - Burbot Recovery Efforts • Next steps: • monitoring donor population (ongoing assessments of angling effort and population strength) • refining methods for providing broodstock while minimize impact to donor stock (ie. capture, spawning and release at spawning location instead of removal and captive stock) • provide up to 3 million fertilized eggs to U of I for fish culture experiments • Funding for this work provided by: • Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and Idaho Dept of Fish and Game through the Bonneville Power Administration (Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Fish And Wildlife Program) • BC Mountain Pine Beetle Fund • BC Ministry of Environment