http://wildsteelheadcoalition.org/2012/02/agreement-protects-wild-elwha-steelhead-from-hatchery-release/ http://wildfishconservancy.org/about/press-room/press-releases/interim-agreement-protects-wild-elwha-steelhead-from-hatchery-release Interim Agreement Protects Wild Elwha Steelhead From Hatchery Release Non-native hatchery steelhead will not be released into the Elwha River and its tributaries this year, say four conservation groups that earlier this month filed suit against federal agencies and officials of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (in their official capacities) for releases of hatchery fish into the Elwha. The groups announced today that they have reached an agreement with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (LEKT), where the four groups agreed not to seek a preliminary injunction against the LEKT’s release of hatchery-raised “Chambers Creek” steelhead, and the LEKT agreed not to release those fish this year. Normally, the fish would have likely been released sometime in April.
That is outstanding news! Just curious, what happens to all those steelhead smolts ready to be dumped into a river? Do they go contaminate the genetics of another river? Fish meal? The sooner they get out of that hatchery so no "accidental releases" can happen, the happier I will be!
Here is to hoping those smolts get put in a sterile river void of wild runs and not "accidentally spilled" in April.
and to think, a few folks on this BB took the position that the treaty tribes were untouchable. great work by our very own LOCAL conservation groups.
It's better than nothing. But it bothers me because it fits a classic political dynamic. When politicians get outraged pushback against their announced agenda, they rarely announce that they're sorry, it was a terrible idea, what were they thinking?, and they'll never mention it again. Instead, they announce a postponement, which reduces the counterpressure. Then they bide their time a while, before going ahead with their agenda.
Is there some category similar to a Wild and Scenic River status that would also include no non indigenous fish stocking? Needs to be made permanent.
the state could designate it a wild steelhead management area, or gene bank, but I don't see that happening. But then again, I didn't think the LEK would back off from the chambers creek plants either.
