| One of the top priorities of the Project is the propogation of native species of silver salmon and steelhead trout using watershed management plans. Wild fish are collected trapping in small coastal streams and reivers and then by operating egg hatching and juvenile fish rearing facilities, genetically wild fish are reared and released in the same or similar local coastal streams. This helps restore balanced and self-sustaining population levels. Another high priority Project activity is the rearing and subsequent release of Chinook salon in Monterey waters.
An important objective of the MBT&TP is the reintroduction of self-sustaining populations of silver salmon into local coastal streams.
The Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project promotes general education and increased awareness of the value of area fishery resources. The Project works to protect and restore the land and water quality that nurture all fish and wildlife.
The MBS&TP is working to build an alliance between young people and the environment to protect these native fish by developing and implementing Salmon and Trout Educations Program (STEP) courses in elementary through high school grade levels. The Project assembles and distributes curriculum that teacvhes students about the life cycle and solutions to the problems of our coastal fishery resources and aquatic habitats. The Project provides teacher training, materials, and a support network to maintain and enhance the program. In addition, the Project provides steelhead trout for some children's fishing programs.
The concept of the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project originated with the late Dr. Tom Thompson, the University of California Sea Grant Advisor, in 1976. Dr. Thompson's basic objective for the project was to establisha cooperative salmon and trout rearing facility in the Monterey Bay area to:
- increase the supply of fishes,
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- assist and support the University of California in projects involving the quantity, quality, and techniques for rearing aquatic organisms; and,
- assist the Univeristy of California Marine Advisory Program in developing an aquaculture demonstration project for the benefit of all.
As the Project grew and matured, and as the Federal Sea Grant funding was severly reduced, the MBS&TP objectives expanded to restore specifc races and strains of native silver salmon and steelhead trout along with specific resource, watershed, and educational objectives:
- high priority to the preservation of the wild fish genetics for all coastal runs of indigenous fish species;
- the restoration of steelhead runs to historic levels in the south coastal area;
- the preservation of the almost extinct unique race of steelhead trout native to the Carmel River;
- great importance is given to the restoration of instream and riparian habitat and the clean cold water necessary to sustain healthy fish populations;
- the re-establishment of naturally reproducing runs of native silver salmon (now nearly extinct) in the San Lorenzo River, Soquel Creek, Aptos, the Pajaro and Salinas Rivers, and ultimately San Gregorio and Pescadero Creek;
- the development of Salmon and Trout Educational Program (STEP) curriculum and resource kits to educate students in the life cycle and importance of healthy fish runs;
- the development of general education programs to increase public awareness of the problems and importance of Monterey Bay anadromous fish; and,
- close coordination and cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Game (CDF&G) on all Project activites.
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