- The Dolly Varden Predator Control Program, in my opinion, was one of the greatest boondoggles in the history of Alaska's Fisheries.
- Supposidly more than 6 million Dolly Varden were destroyed.
- Bounties were paid for Dolly Varden tails turned in at 2.5 to 5 cents per tail.
- Studies showed that most of the tails turned in for bounty were from salmon and rainbow trout, the very species the program was supposed to benefit.
- Studies also showed that Dolly Varden do not eat significant numbers of salmon young. In fact the program was based on the feeding habits of another species, the Arctic charr.
- Further studies indicated that Dolly Varden benefit salmon by eating freshwater snails in lakes and loose salmon eggs in streams.
- These snails are an intermediate host of a parasite that causes blindness in coho and sockeye salmon.
- Loose salmon eggs eventually develop a fungus that can affect and destroy the eggs buried in the gravel.
- For information about the amazing migration behavior of Dolly Varden look at Migration of Anadromous Dolly Varden Charr in Southeastern Alaska--A Manager's Nightmare by Robert H. Armstrong
- For a good review of what is known about Dolly Varden look at Dolly Varden charr, Salvelinus malma by Robert H. Armstrong & James E. Morrow
- Also for informtion about them in Southeast Alaska look at Dolly Varden by Robert H. Armstrong and Marge Hermans
Dolly Varden Predator Control Program
https://vimeo.com/471966992