Myassisdragon, it is the debate that shapes the fisheries now, so the better informed we are the better decisions we can ask for.

Smalma -
as I see it this from your comments you are saying we don't need the hatchery for a season on this river. I can agree with that. I have said before the best hatchery we have in the system is the trap and lift over sunset falls. it produces far more fish then the Wallace at a lower cost.

That said producing hatchery marked fish for mark selective fisheries in the salt needs to be factored in. without the Wallace and Eagle Creek you would take fish away from those fisheries. you could maybe replace them by putting out more fish from a river that's wild population is doing worse but then you put that population at more of a risk of being overwhelmed by strays.

so the question remains should we shut them down and put that money elsewhere or leave them in place?

oh and the rack comes out of the Wallace fairly early in the spawning season. maybe that practice needs to change also?