Hatcheries

Hatchery Reform in Progress

Hatchery programs are funded mainly by the federal Mitchell Act, which seeks to offset habitat and harvest losses from federal dams in the Columbia River. Hatchery fish support Tribal, commercial, and sport fishing, but also can pose risks to wild salmon by competing with them for food and habitat, reducing their fitness.

Regional reform follows recommendations from the Hatchery Scientific Review Group’s, and the Lower Columbia Conservation and Sustainable Fisheries Plan. Also, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Service are identifying actions to better align hatchery programs with Endangered Species Act requirements and recovery needs while still providing fishing opportunities.

Hatchery Impacts

Measures to keep hatchery fish from wild fish spawning grounds, such as mark-selective fisheries and fish weirs, have been somewhat successful but need improvements to meet recovery goals, especially for coho and tule fall Chinook salmon.

Hatcheries also help reintroduce fish populations. In the Cowlitz, Lewis, and North Fork Toutle Rivers, efforts are underway to reestablish salmon and steelhead above dams. Hatcheries also have been used to reintroduce chum salmon into new or improved habitat to increase their distribution across the region.