Fish Politics in the Pacific Northwest

Transcription

1 Fish Politics in the Pacific Northwest Hatchery and Harvest Reform Stephen Smith Canby, Oregon

2 Hatchery & Harvest Reform Hatchery Scientific Review Group Process Issues Recommendations Implementation Headwater Tribal Perspectives on Hatchery and Harvest Reform Smith s Views on future recovery efforts

3 Hatchery Scientific Review Group Review Congressionally mandated 14 members Recommendations for fishery managers to better meet their conservation & harvest objectives Reviewed all 178 Columbia Basin hatchery programs and 351 populations

4 Hatchery Scientific Review Group March 27 th Roll-Out Sheraton Hotel Airport 1:30pm Congressional Report System-Wide Report w/individual population reports and recommendations 17 System-Wide Recommendations 8 Issue Papers on key topics Analytical Tools

5 Key Hatchery & Harvest Issues Disruption of local adaptation Adverse ecological interactions competition, predation, disease transfer Facility effects screening, effluents, traps/weirs Low survival of hatchery fish Inefficient use of hatchery fish Insufficient escapement of wild fish

6 Key HSRG Recommendations Designate populations based on biological significance: Primary, Contributing and Stabilizing Adopt HSRG principles and standards for population management Specific HSRG recommendations are a starting point

7 Key HSRG Recommendations Use local broodstock increase performance Manage broodstock & escapement Allow habitat conditions, not hatchery, to drive wild population adaptation (PNI) Increase harvest of hatchery fish - selective Increase escapement of natural fish

8 In Simpler Terms Too many hatchery fish straying to spawning grounds bad biology & lost harvest Too many hatchery fish returning to hatcheries lost harvest Too many wild fish being harvested bad biology Escapement Quantity and Quality

9 Benefits of Hatchery & Harvest Reforms Improved fitness of natural populations Increased abundance of natural populations Overall increased and stabilized harvest Accelerated recovery Synergy with habitat improvements

10 Implementation Adopt HSRG principles and biological standards for hatchery and escapement mgmt. Fishery managers Hatchery funding entities Program and recovery planners Apply HSRG analytical tools All-H Analyzer Quantifies conservation and harvest values of future options

11 Reforms - Headwater Tribal Colville Tribes Perspective Salmon People with reserved rights- fish and fishing 9,000+ members Ave. Ceremonial & Subsistence harvest <1,200 fish ¼ salmon per member

12 Colville Tribes Key Salmon Issues Cumulative passage mortalities through 9 dams Significant improvements via Mid-C HCPs Significant improvements via FCRPS BiOp Need to consider Dry Water Year flow strategy Need to control predator effects Degraded tributary habitat Significant improvements via Fish Accords Improvements via Mid-C HCP Improvements via Columbia F&W Program

13 Colville Tribes Key Salmon Issues Reformed Hatchery Practices Hatchery programs must be consistent with conservation and recovery Hatchery mitigation must be available to affected sovereigns Reformed Harvest Practices: Harvest rate limitations for all salmon ESUs endangered UCR spring Chinook and steelhead Conservation principles wild fish escapement for listed and non-listed populations.

14 Colville Tribes Approach Adopt HSRG principles and standards in development and operation of hatcheries Develop selective fishing capability to enhance C&S fishing and protect wild populations Seek compatible management strategies from lower river fishery managers

15 Smith Perspective on Recovery Very optimistic with All-H efforts and recent fish runs. Avoid Govt.-To-Govt. Life-Cycle Solutions. Sustainable Recovery - Biological & Political Hatchery & Harvest Mgmt. Process Transparency and Best Available Science

16 THANK YOU