In September of 2003 a fish checker at Sekiu told me that in 2004 every hatchery receiving federal money would receive the machine that clips the fins. Apparently the fry pass through and are automatically clipped.
By receiving this machine would also be required to clip 100% of the fish.
If this machine does it's job it would be possible to clip 500,000 out of 500,000. This is hear say at best but one that I would like to believe.
I'm hopeing to learn more this year about this topic.