Topwater,

You are correct in asking the tribes to clip all their hatchery fish, especially those funded with federal money. Unfortunately, their fish managers have a different view on fin clipping. NWIFC and CRITFC both have come out against marking of hatchery fish. They state their reasons as a funding issue (which is bogus since most sportfishing groups have come out and said they would volunteer labor). They also cite a mortality issue (which is very small). Another issue they raise about marking hatchery fish is it might bias some of the scientific methods that are currently or have been used in research purposes. If you ask me their reasons are very weak. As I have said on here before, all hatchery fish should be marked and all wild coho, steelhead, and chinook stocks should be harvested in a selective manner.

DaveD