Quote:
Originally posted by ramon vb:
The foundation of this proposal, that hatchery salmon are capable of contributing to the recovery of ESA- listed wild populations, is completely unproven. Hatchery fish threaten the long-term viability of wild salmon and steelhead populations by decreasing the genetic fitness of wild populations, competing for food and habitat, spreading disease, and promoting increased predation. Hatchery runs create harvest pressures that declining wild runs cannot support. Even if hatchery salmon were not an actual threat to wild fish, the statutory mission of the ESA is to recover naturally reproducing populations by preserving and restoring the natural ecosystems they depend on, not mass-producing artificial facsimiles.

Ramon Vanden Brulle
Washington Trout
I see no flaws in the above logic. I am unaware of any instances where dumping hatchery fish in a river has helped wild salmon.

If our goal is to save wild salmon we cannot allow a sham that counts a hatchery fish when determination the health of wild runs.

If all we want are rivers full of hatchery fish this is a great proposal. If we truly want to save wild runs this is smoke and mirrors. I see a role for hatcherys in maintaining DNA from seriously imperiled stocks, but restoration of wild runs should NOT be based on long trem hatchery supplementation.
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