Life Inside the Tank: The Impact of Vateritic Otoliths on Hatchery‐Reared Coho Salmon.

This article explores the impact of vateritic otoliths on hatchery-reared Coho Salmon, which are important for ecosystems, Indigenous communities, and the fishing industry. While hatcheries were once considered effective, research has shown that hatchery-reared salmon have lower survival rates in the wild compared to their wild counterparts. Vateritic otoliths, which affect hearing and balance, have been found to be common in hatchery-reared salmon. The Coho Otolith Project aims to investigate the causes and consequences of vateritic otolith development in Coho Salmon, conducting experiments to understand its influence on survival rates in both stream and marine environments. The research also aims to determine the prevalence of vateritic otoliths in hatchery-reared Coho Salmon across different facilities and stocks, providing valuable insights for hatchery managers and stakeholders to improve practices and conserve salmon stocks. [Extracted from the article]