Study Urges Keeping Hatchery Levels But Draft Report Acknowledges Hatcheries Harmed Weak Stocks

A new study that reviewed available scientific studies on hatcheries and their offspring has found no “explicit evidence of adverse impacts” on naturally spawning fish in the Columbia River Basin, and urges maintaining salmon and steelhead production at current levels.

In parentheses, the draft environmental impact statement released Tuesday by the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority acknowledges, however, that hatcheries have harmed weak stocks and mixed-stock harvests.

That finding encouraged John Platt of the Columbia River InterTribal Fisheries Commission - identification of a problem supported by evidence.

But, he said, the report’s recommendations don’t try to solve it.

“If they maintain the status quo with minor changes, they can kiss goodbye the upriver summer chinook, the Snake River spring chinook and the Snake River fall chinook and the Snake River sockeye,” said Platt, special assistant to the commission’s executive director. “They can kiss them goodbye.”

The draft report was prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Bonneville Power Administration to create a basinwide strategy for producing fish through hatcheries. The draft is open for public comment until Feb. 10. Then Fish and Wildlife will decide whether to adopt the policy statement.

While stating that they couldn’t find evidence hatcheries had caused harm, researchers said it is nearly impossible to measure impact on migratory naturally spawning fish that spend several years in the ocean.

Scientific concern and warnings about harmful impacts justify “taking every reasonable precaution” to protect naturally spawning fish, the report said.

The draft report made five “preferred action” recommendations:

Limit basin-wide production to current levels or tiny increases.

Release more hatchery-produced fish into tribal fisheries above the Bonneville Dam with the idea they will return there to spawn, balanced by releasing fewer fish below the dam.

Fully assess risks of any proposed hatchery management changes.

Propose aggressive tributary hatchery plans while continuing to monitor hatchery results and changing hatchery management practices where needed.