Effects of stock, coded-wire tagging, and transplant on straying of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in southeastern Alaska

Straying of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) from two wild stocks (intertidal and upstream) in southeastern Alaska was estimated. Secondary factors (coded-wire tagging and transplanting of the intertidal stock) that may influence straying were also evaluated. In 1996, 321 494 fry were marked with either coded-wire tags or pelvic-fin clips. A total of 3828 marked adults were recovered in their natal streams and 79 strays were recovered in streams within 60 km of the release sites. The overall estimated straying rate was 5.1%. Estimated straying for the intertidal stock (9.2%) was higher than straying of the upstream stock (3.7%) but was not statistically different due to high variance of the estimates. The proportion of fish straying was significantly greater (P = 0.01) for coded-wire-tagged than for pelvic-fin-clipped fish for the upstream but not for the transplanted stock. Straying and distribution of the transplanted stock were more similar to those of the upstream stock, which was endemic to the natal watershed and release site of the transplant, than to those of the intertidal stock, which was the donor stock for the transplant. Although tagging may influence straying, incubation and initial estuarine environment appear to be major determinants of the natural straying of pink salmon in southeastern Alaska.