Washington officials debate future of salmon hatcheries

The state’s hatcheries management plan was developed without input from Washington treaty tribes. That may change

Hard to handle: Some state commissioners want changes to the management plans for hatchery fish, like these trout at Whatcom Falls Trout Hatchery in Washington. Photo: Cascadia Daily News

By Julia Lerner/Cascadia Daily News, April 19, 2023. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is considering the future of hatchery management as wild salmon populations continue to struggle and hatchery-raised fish fail to meet the growing demand.

Commissioners from across the state met for four days earlier this month in Anacortes, where they hammered out planning and operations for the department for the next several months.

During an April 8 meeting, commissioners discussed hatchery operations among other topics.

Washington has one of the largest hatchery systems in the United States.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) operates and manages dozens of them, producing millions of fish every year.

Currently, the state has a management plan in place for anadromous salmon and steelhead fish in hatcheries—referred to as 3624—which was adopted in April 2021 after almost three years of work. Under the policy, hatcheries address three designated concerns: conservation, mitigation and fishery supplementation. Under conservation programs, the hatcheries serve to bolster “depressed target wild salmon or steelhead populations that are in need of rebuilding or recovery,” according to the plan.

That plan, though, was developed without input from Washington treaty tribes.

“In that policy—3624—there was a statement that we would work toward developing a co-manager policy,” said Ken Warheit, chief scientist at the fish program for WDFW. “We have been working on this draft co-manager policy for about a year and a half now.”

On April 8, Warheit presented details of the draft co-manager policy, answered questions from commissioners and outlined the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process for the policy.

The draft policy will apply to all co-managed anadromous salmon and steelhead programs in the state, and emphasizes tribal treaty rights—in place since the 1800s and fortified by the Boldt Decision—alongside “scientifically sound” policies.

Revisions questioned

While 3624 remains in place, commissioners wondered if the co-manager policy was necessary, or if it sufficiently emphasized environmental concerns.

“Why do we need to shift to this policy, as opposed to sticking with 3624?” asked commissioner Tim Ragen, a former Western Washington University professor and marine biologist. “In 3624, it’s clear that conservation is first. In this [co-manager] policy, it’s not so clear.”

Other commissioners, including Melanie Rowland, a former attorney for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, echoed Ragen’s concerns. The two questioned how the proposed policy emphasized conservation over the economy.

Though hatchery fish help prop up salmon populations for fishing and treaty requirements, the fish can pose challenges to wild salmon, including habitat competition and illness.

Many environmental leaders are questioning hatcheries’ efficacy as new science emerges, and considering how to balance the needs of local economies, treaty rights and the environment.

“There are some commissioners that have a different opinion than other commissioners about what the policy should look like,” said Warheit. “A lot of the questions were comparing the two policies.”

Several commissioners believe 3624 emphasizes conservation and recovery, while the draft co-manager policy emphasizes harvest, said Warheit, though he added there’s a lot of nuance and history to be considered, and one plan doesn’t necessarily emphasize conservation more than another.

The co-manager plan would not necessarily replace the existing 3624 policy, said Warheit.

“The two policies can coexist, but not for a particular hatchery program,” he said.

Commissioners haven’t made any decisions about the draft policy, other than to submit it for SEPA determination through the state.

Commissioners will next meet in June.

“The theme for the June meeting [is] to talk about these risks and benefits of hatchery production,” said Warheit.