Montana State University Student Subunit of the American Fisheries Society

24 January 2020

Attendance: 12 MSU AFS students + ~7 UM AFS students

10:00 a.m. David Schmetterling Presentation on fish handling, tagging and marking

Dave encouraged people to know the purpose about why we are collecting information on the fish that we are. He discussed what you may learn from the measurements you collect from fish. He covered the different pros and cons for applying anesthesia prior to handling fish. Different measurement types were discussed such as total, fork, standard, eye to fork, and snout to vent, and weight. Differences between fish marking and fish tagging and which to choose for different project goals were covered. Dave handed out the different types of tags for students to observe and practice using them on bananas first.

12:00 � 12:30 Lunch

12:30 � 1:15 p.m. Angela Smith (Hatchery Manager) gave a tour of the hatchery

Only Westslope Cutthroat Trout are reared at this hatchery. Angela explained the variable genetics of this MO12 brood stock. When it is necessary, they will infuse wild fish genetics into the MO12 brood. Both breeding and production fish are held at the Washoe Park Fish Hatchery. Angela discussed how light exposure from the skylights in the hatchery building can stress the fish and sometimes cause cold-water bacterial outbreaks/infections, but the light exposure also helps them adjust to the stress of real-life outdoor conditions once they are transferred outside. Feeding times have been changed from four times a day down to one big feeding a day since Angela took over. This is to help prevent fish from the stress of being nipped at and to prevent fin damage. Angela invited students who wish to volunteer with hatchery work to come back in April to help with sorting the 3-year old brood stock by sex.

1:15-2:45 p.m. Students Practice anesthetizing, marking, and tagging fish with Dave Schmetterling and Rob Clark

Students practiced anesthetizing, handling, marking, and tagging fish at five stations.Students were able to mark the fish using hole punches and scissors for fin clips. Students were able to practice tagging with VIE and VI tags. Dave and Rob demonstrated how the implantation of a radio tag works and discussed the pros and cons of using stainless steel staples vs. silk sutures for closing the incision.

Adjourn: 2:45 p.m.

MSU students provided Dave, Angela, and Rob with our AFS t-shirts and stickers.Several photos were taken and will be combined into a google doc for attendees to download if they wish.

2:50 p.m. Students left for Bozeman and arrived at 5:15 p.m.

Compiled by Levi Umland, Secretary