The Willapa Policy (WP) was and is victim to things gone bad. From the beginning it was dependent on commercial fisheries being selective and particularly alternate low mortality harvest methods. Never happened for many reasons all which should have been anticipated. Then additional funding was provided by the legislature to bring the Naselle Chinook production to the 2.5 million release goal to add additional opportunities for both Rec & Commercial interest. With the loss of the north bay fisheries with the Folks Cr. 90% reduction both Rec & Commercial were both going to be primarily in the South Bay. The South Bay lacks infrastructure to support large numbers of Rec fishers and the fishing areas are not user friendly. Same goes for the Commercial fishers. Grass, crabs, sharks, just about everything that makes it difficult for any harvester. The WP also mandated escapement goals for the natural spawners in the Naselle further limiting Commercial harvest as did Rec priority on Chinook.

Simply put you ended up with large numbers of hatchery production adults returning into the unfavorable conditions Doc identified. This results in substantial mortalities of not just the hatchery adults but the wild adults that are mixed in with them. There is no upside to the expanded production of 2.5 million Chinook smolt at Naselle Hatchery. Then WDFW added to another 2.5 million for a total of 5 million Chinook smolt at Naselle for the Orcas. The Nemah does not have natural production concerns but will suffer similar problems keeping returning adults alive for eggtake.

For the sake of discussion let us ask this question. If they make the 5 million eggtake at Naselle what happens when the adults return? The stream and facility cannot handle the much smaller release number returning adults so how can one reasonably expect that they will succeed with nearly double or more?

The Commercials will argue for a expanded wipe out fishery to harvest the adults to insure the stream is not over loaded. The Rec fishers will have a limited impact due to the difficulties outlined. Conservation minded folks will argue stay the course and follow the policy ( which WDFW has not done ) but the problem remains.

Simply put wrong fish, wrong hatchery, wrong place. The Southern bay hatcheries will never escape the circumstances that are causing the current difficulties. The only hatchery in the Willapa Bay that can rear & release large numbers of Chinook smolt and capture returning adults with a high survival rate is Forks Ck. on the Willapa River.