For some time there has been a disagreement between NMFS and the tribes over what to do with surplus hatchery salmon on the Columbia system. The tribes want to let them spawn in areas that wild salmon are extinct, the NMFS bio's say this could have a negetive effect on remaining wild stocks. It looks like the tribes will get what they want. http://news.theolympian.com/stories/20010515/Northwest/41231.shtml

I didn't have time to read it all, but if the wild fish are extinct in a river system and the genetics in the hatchery fish are strong, is there anything negative about letting them spawn a new semi-wild run of fish there?

RT

Have to agree ... if the fish are indeed extinct, then I don't see a problem with it. Although, it would be nice to maybe see nearby streams with similar genetics in wild fish that have decent runs "donate" some fish for brood.

I do not really understand the logic behind any decisions that are handed down by either NMFS or WDFW. NMFS by themselves actually can make some semi-intelligent decisions but the get NMFS and WDFW together and nothing at all makes sense.

Sort of like how the Columbia is going to open to the taking of marked and unmarked sockeye salmon in a few days yet Upper Snake River Sockeye are listed as Endangered and there have been single digit returns to Redfish lake over the past few years. Why would NMFS allow this fishery??



Yet, escapement goals are below what is needed on our local river systems and they do not allow a minimal impact C&R fishery.



Or how they are allowing the slaughter of wild Yakima springers by the sportsmen. The fishers in the lower Yakima have been pounding these fish and doing very well and bonking wild springers legally. The Yakima has the only healthy run of wild spring chinook in the Upper Columbia Basin.

I use to keep up on this salmon recovery tech, but lately I have found it kind of discouraging to see the phd. scientists can't agree on some seemingly basic issues. It's getting hard to sort out the politics from the science. It seems the NMFS biologists have studies showing offspring from hatchery fish spawning in the wild have very low adult returns. They are concerned that any inter-breeding with wild fish will weaken the genepool with unknown and likely negetive effects. Here is a link to a long technical read if anyone is interested.
http://www.nwcouncil.org/library/isab/isab2001-3.htm