[7] USFWS Announces Three-Year Review Of Columbia Basin Hatcheries
The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced last week that it will begin a three-year review of operations at its 21 regional salmon hatcheries as federal agencies move forward with their salmon recovery plans.
"Our goal is to ensure that our hatcheries are operated on the best scientific principles and contribute to sustainable fisheries and the recovery of naturally spawning populations of salmon," said Dan Diggs, Assistant Regional Director of the regional fisheries program. The review will begin with the Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery on Oregon's Warm Springs River, with a draft report expected by January 2006.
In an Aug. 15 press release, the agency said it will pattern its review after recent efforts to reform hatchery practices at state, tribal and federal hatcheries in Puget Sound and on the Washington coast. USFWS says it has adopted the principles of the previous reviews with only slight modifications. Principles: (1) Every hatchery stock and program must have well-defined goals in terms of desired benefits and purpose; (2) Hatchery programs must be scientifically defensible; (3) Hatchery programs must respond adaptively to new information. Goals: (1) Establish the scientific foundations for National Fish Hatcheries and cooperative programs; (2) Conserve genetic resources for salmonid species; (3) Assist with the recovery of naturally spawning populations; (4) Provide for sustainable fisheries; (5) Conduct scientific research; (6) Improve quality and cost effectiveness of hatchery programs.
The agency also said its review will be coordinated with co-managers of the Basin's fisheries, including the ongoing US v. Oregon process, the fish protection and mitigation activities of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and the ESA processes of NOAA Fisheries. -B. R.
The following links were mentioned in this story:
Columbia River Basin Hatchery Review
Subscriptions and Feedback
Subscribe to the Fishletter notification e-mail list.
Send e-mail comments to the editor.
THE ARCHIVE :: Previous NW Fishletter issues and supporting documents.
NW Fishletter is produced by Energy NewsData.
Publisher: Cyrus Noë, Editor: Bill Rudolph
Phone: (206) 285-4848 Fax: (206) 281-8035
