Another aspect of the transfer is that Tribal approval is needed. There are 3 Tribes that fish 13A, Minter's terminal area. Did the fish come from hatcheries in their U&A or from another Tribe's U&A. What agreements were made to have them "give up" harvest?
If there are out of basin transfers occurring then what is NOAA/NMFS's official position?
And the yet unanswered question is whether these fry were going to be destroyed as excess and are now re-purposed? Or are they simply donations from fish otherwise to be reared and released and thereby not actually representing a net increase/replacement for lost Minter fish?
Also, today's News Tribune reports that "Up to 2.75 million fall chinook fry will be taken from six other state hatcheries for release from Minter Creek and Tumwater Falls in May and June." State hatcheries or hatcheries within the State? More details would be nice.
That same article reported that "Officials said the loss of spring chinook was particularly painful because they were meant to help feed the dwindling population of southern resident orcas, which are endangered." Okay, if White River springers are no longer being reared as part of a recovery effort for that run then why not have a recreational season on them in the terminal area? And if being reared for Orcas then maybe ramp up that production!
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