FISHERIES STILL SWIMMING ALONG

As you may recall, we reported on the MHCC Fisheries Technology department receiving fish eggs from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) during Fall Term. This is a regular occurrence for the campus department. The Advocate has been following the progress of these fish. By Nov. 7, the fish were .3 grams in weight, being fed every 30 minutes by Mt. Hood students in the program.

Over the winter break, students tended to the fish, now weighing in at just about 5 grams and almost 3 inches long, a 470 percent increase in weight from just two months ago.

Graphic by Sheila Embers

This month, the fish are about 12 grams each, and almost 4 inches long. They are now in green circular tanks.

“The water in the hatchery can be slightly heated so the fish (a cold-blooded animal) continue to grow at a good rate even if it is cold outside,” said Marla Chaney, Fisheries Technology instructor.

Although we are having bad weather (the campus being closed on Tuesday), the fish still need to be tended to. At the moment the fish can miss a day or so off from feeding, and luckily a part-time instructor lives close by to help feed if needed.

The students are in three groups making management decisions to ensure they reach their legal size.

Once these fish are 8 inches long, they will be ready to move into the Mt. Hood Pond, on the southwest side of campus. The fish currently being tended to on campus will likely be moved to the pond in late May. Undersized fish will be placed in the Kiwanis Pond and Camp Angelos Pond, both run elsewhere by nonprofit organizations.

In conjunction with tending to the fish, Fisheries students also survey local environments for the fish. Students in instructor Todd Hanna’s Fisheries Techniques class surveyed sections of Beaver Creek last term. Sections of the creek are drawn by ODFW and all survey data collected go to ODFW for scientific research.

The state ODFW usually has events in conjunction with fish being released into the pond. At the moment there are no details available for future events in May.

For more information on the program: https://www.mhcc.edu/FisheriesProgramDetails/

Advocate Staff