Our Concern
There is now irrefutable proof that hatcheries cause harm to wild fish. Recent studies find that steelhead born of hatchery parents in the wild might produce only one-eighth to one-third of the offspring that two breeding wild fish would.
Said another way: Hatchery fish are actually reducing the population of wild fish. To prevent this from worsening, the Native Fish Society filed a lawsuit against the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and the National Marine Fisheries Service for its management of the Sandy River hatchery. Wild salmon and steelhead in the Sandy are protected under the ESA, and Oregon law mandates that ODFW implement plans that decrease the adverse impacts of hatchery programs.
Backgrounders
Hatchery Impact on Wild Salmonids
Sandy River Hatchery Problems and Solutions
Expert Witness Declaration
Jim Licatowich, ODFW Supervisor of Fisheries Research 1979-1983 and Assistant Chief of Fisheries 1983-1988.
Chris Frissell, Ph D. Fisheries Science
ESA Documents Under Review
Sandy River draft Environmental Assessment (EA)
Sandy River draft Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) for Spring Chinook
Sandy River draft HGMP for Summer Steelhead
Sandy River draft HGMP for Winter Steelhead
Sandy River draft HGMP for Coho
Legal Documents
Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief
Press Releases
March 26th 2013, Judge Sides with Wild Fish
April 14th 2011, Sandy Press Release
News
March 21st 2013, Oregonian, “Judge allows release of Sandy Hatchery salmon, but at a reduced level”
February 22nd 2013, Oregonian, “Oregon fish program caught in bind on Sandy, Clackamas rivers”
October 17th 2012, Oregonian, ” Protecting Wild Salmon, Steelhead from Hatchery Fish”
March 14th 2012, Courthouse News Service, “Native Fish Society Fights Oregon Hatchery“
April 16th 2011, Oregonian, “Fish groups stop going with the flow”
April 7th 2011, Oregonian, “Wild fish, sustainable jobs”