The province recently completed its annual survey of kokanee numbers for the Okanagan Lakes region, announced Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Steve Thomson.
Results from the routine survey of Okanagan main valley shorelines and lake tributaries help ministry staff monitor the health of the fishery and set angling regulations. The results show:
- In Okanagan Lake, a total of 294,000 fish were counted, the second- highest total in the last 20 years. Of this total, shore-spawning kokanee are at 276,000 and stream-spawning kokanee are at 18,000.
- Skaha Lake kokanee population is 37,000, similar to numbers for the last three years.
This year’s survey was supported by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.
Kokanee salmon are land-locked sockeye salmon found in all of the Okanagan main valley lakes. They are an important part of the natural ecosystem. The ministry and its partners will continue efforts to restore spawning and rearing habitats and ensure the long-term health of kokanee populations.