For NOAA pdf file, go HERE

http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/AlseaResponse/20040528/may28release.pdf

 

NOAA04-R144
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOAA Fisheries Expresses Continued Commitment to
Pacific Salmon Recovery with New Hatchery Policy

Agency Praises Regional Efforts to Protect Salmon through Habitat Projects and Hatchery Reforms  5/28/04

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration=s National Marine Fisheries Service
(NOAA Fisheries) today announced its continued commitment to protect 27 Pacific salmon and
steelhead populations listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). At the announcement a new
hatchery policy proposal and a report outlining its assessment of the current biological status of each of
the West Coast=s naturally spawning and hatchery origin salmon stocks were unveiled. The listing of
the stocks would be reinstated under the proposal. Two stocks have improved from Aendangered@ to
Athreatened.@ One stock has gone from “threatened@ to Aendangered,@ and one has been added as
“threatened.” NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

NOAA Fisheries= proposed hatchery policy follows a court=s finding that the agency should
better account for hatchery fish in its ESA listings. The new policy’s central focus is unchanged from
prior policy: the conservation of naturally spawning salmon and the ecosystems upon which they
depend. The policy would consider hatchery fish that are closely related to naturally spawning salmon
in all of the current ESA-listed salmon groups. NOAA would also take into account the fact that some
well managed hatcheries are contributing to the recovery of species, some hatcheries are having little
or no effect, and some hatcheries are potentially hindering recovery. Better management practices in
the Northwest’s hatchery system are encouraging and should continue to help speed the recovery of
salmon.

“This hatchery policy will re-enforce NOAA’s commitment to protect naturally spawning salmon
and their ecosystems,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Under Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, adding that the proposed policy will
allow 90 days for the public to weigh in with their views. “We commend our state, tribal, and nongovernmental
partners for helping to identify and address needed salmon habitat improvements, and
also for their outstanding work to reform hundreds of hatcheries in the Northwest.”

The proposed policy notes that increased salmon numbers alone are not sufficient, and that
scientific studies have found poor hatchery management practices can pose risks to the fitness of
naturally spawning salmon. The policy recognizes science is developing on potential contributions of
properly and carefully managed hatcheries to the rebuilding of depressed natural stocks. It also
recognizes the important role hatcheries play in fulfilling trust and treaty tribal responsibilities. The
proposal would restrict harvest of hatchery fish only to the extent necessary to aid in the recovery of
listed fish.

“Although this status report does not propose major changes in the current classification of
listed stocks, many of these stocks are in much better condition than when they were listed. Favorable
ocean conditions have helped, but local recovery efforts are also making vital contributions,” said Bob
Lohn, Northwest Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries.

Lohn said that local recovery efforts such as the Shared Strategy in Puget Sound, the Oregon
Plan and Oregon’s “1010” water quality initiative, and the Northwest Power Planning Council’s subbasin
planning initiative for Idaho, Oregon and Washington are encouraging. He noted that real
progress is being made in reforming hatcheries to complement naturally spawning runs through efforts
such as the Puget Sound Hatchery Reform Project, the Yakama Nation’s Cle Elum hatchery, the Nez
Perce tribal hatchery and the comprehensive evaluation of Columbia and Snake River hatcheries.
Both the proposed listing determinations and the draft hatchery policy will be published in the
Federal Register early next month and will be open for public comment for 90 days. Public meetings or
“workshops” will likely be scheduled to allow interested parties the opportunity to present their views.
The proposed listings would become final determinations a year from now; the hatchery policy will be
published as a “final rule” shortly after its comment period closes.

Currently there are 26 salmon and steelhead populations under ESA protection on the West
Coast. Twenty of those populations are considered Athreatened@ and five are in the more perilous
category of Aendangered,@ meaning they are in danger of extinction. Today=s proposal would maintain
most of those categories with the following changes: Sacramento Winter-run chinook would change
from endangered to threatened, Upper Columbia River steelhead (whose population includes resident
rainbow trout) would change from endangered to threatened, and Central California Coast Coho would
change from threatened to endangered.

While no immediate change is proposed in the listing status of the Oregon Coast Coho, the
stock has experienced a remarkable rebound. The Oregon Governor’s Office, in partnership with state
and federal agencies including NOAA, is leading a scientific review of the problems causing the
previous decline and the extent to which they have been addressed through Oregon’s conservation
efforts. The results of the review are expected this fall and NOAA has agreed to reopen the listing
determination when those results become available.

In addition, the Lower Columbia coho group that was a candidate for consideration just before
the 2001 court decision is proposed for threatened status.

NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources,
and the habitat on which they depend, through scientific research, management and enforcement. Our
stewardship of these resources benefits the nation by supporting coastal communities that depend
upon them, while helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational
opportunities for the American public.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction
and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our
nation’s coastal and marine resources. On the Web: http://www.noaa.gov.
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