Native Fish Society's work to revive abundant wild, native fish has never been more ambitious and expansive. As our River Steward and Native Fish Fellowship community grows, we're increasing the...
Dec 6, 2018
In 2007, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a Rogue Spring Chinook Conservation Plan (Conservation Plan) to help improve conditions for the struggling wild salmon that had seriously...
Nov 19, 2018
The Washington State Governor’s office created an Orca Whale Task force to address the declining health of Pod J, a pod of 76 whales that lives in and feeds on Chinook salmon in Puget Sound. This...
When the going gets tough, the tough pick their guitars and play. Or at least that's what angler, author, lifelong musician and wild steelhead advocate Chris Santella and his band Catch & Release...
Oct 25, 2018
When the lower four Klamath River dams come out in 2021 we will witness the largest river restoration event in history to benefit wild salmon and steelhead, clean water, and communities throughout...
Aug 7, 2018
This week I joined a small team of volunteers and hiked several miles up one of California’s most remote Wild and Scenic Rivers, the North Fork of the Salmon River, which flows into the rugged...
Jul 27, 2018
There is much to celebrate about this year’s forecast for close to a half million wild fall Chinook salmon returning to the Rogue River in Southern Oregon. At a time when we hear more about the...
Jul 6, 2018
Factory fish (also known as hatchery fish or artificial fish) negatively impact wild fish populations across the Pacific Northwest. While the catalog of the basic science on the impacts of factory...
This spring, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for hatchery operations in the Willamette basin. These Hatchery Genetic Management...
May 30, 2018
Reflections of Place Seven thousand years ago, Lake Crescent was shaped like a lightning bolt. It drained east from its outlet at Indian Creek to the Elwha River and into the Strait of Juan de...
May 29, 2018
Written by Native Fish Society member Renee Fitts Thompson et al., in their new paper,“Anthropogenic habitat alteration leads to rapid loss of adaptive variation and restoration potential in wild...
May 9, 2018
In response to a petition for listing submitted by the Karuk Tribe and Salmon River Restoration Council, the National Marine Fisheries Service initiated a process to solicit comments and review...
May 1, 2018
Coalition takes Army Corps to court over the future of the Willamette's anadromous fish The Willamette Valley is the most populous watershed in the state, home to about 70 percent of Oregonians....
Apr 2, 2018
The Native Fish Society and its Lower Deschutes River Stewards get a lot of questions about what's going on with the Pelton Round Butte fish passage project. Some people are pretty well-informed...
Feb 21, 2018
Written by Gabi Esparza and Luke Westphal, reprinted by permission Salmon are an iconic symbol of the Pacific Northwest. Strong and beautiful creatures, they provide a number of services to our...
Feb 12, 2018
The unraveling of native fish is more apparent with spring Chinook and summer steelhead than any other fish swimming in the Northwest. Anglers understand that these fish are not the same as their...
Jan 17, 2018
Member Dave Kruse asked, "Another fish organization says they need to use wild stock for hatcheries. I’m not sure this is a good idea and would like your input." Dave’s question arose from a...
Jan 4, 2018
The Wild Salmon Policy was created in 2005 by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) with the goal to "restore and maintain healthy and diverse salmon populations and their habitats for the benefit and...
Dec 13, 2017
Despite Dam Removal, Public Funding Requested for Artificial Fish Rearing Facility on the Carmel River Last week the Native Fish Society and partners including Patagonia, Stoecker Ecological, Dr....
Dec 4, 2017
Missed deadlines, postponed actions, poor communication drive fish closer to the brink. Contacts: Lizzy Potter, Advocates for the West, 503-914-6388, epotter@advocateswest.org Marlies...
Nov 2, 2017
Facts are still forthcoming on Monday's accidental release of up to 305,000 farmed Atlantic salmon from a net pen into Puget Sound near Cypress Island, WA. Nevertheless, the threat from these...
Aug 23, 2017
From the Sponsors: Come hear from local stewards and stakeholders about conservation efforts in the Elk River watershed. Researchers will present emerging science and current research, and we'll...
Jun 6, 2017
River Steward Bradley Bobbitt was concerned when he heard that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife had submitted an application to permit a new fish hatchery through the Washington State...
May 31, 2017
Wild Yet? Legit Wild Steelhead Gene Banks Long Overdue for Puget Sound Native fish advocates around Puget Sound celebrated last August, when the Nisqually and Elwha rivers were set aside...
Apr 27, 2017
In 2010, Native Fish Society began a grassroots campaign, Save Sandy Salmon, spearheaded by River Steward Spencer Miles. This led to a lawsuit two years later, Native Fish Society v. National...
Apr 3, 2017
This past week the Joint Committee on Ways and Means SubCommittee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the Governor's recommended 2017-19 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Budget. Of primary...
Mar 31, 2017
District Coordinator Paul Engelmeyer will lead a series of free tours, open to the public, to discuss the recently released Federal Coho Recovery plan. During the field trips attendees will view...
Mar 6, 2017
Thank you to all our members and supporters who sent comments to the California Fish and Wildlife Commission in October. With your encouragement, and help from our local River Steward and partners...
The Native Fish Society and our River Stewards have been advocating for the Deschutes River and its wild, native fish for over a decade. In 2016, we redoubled our efforts, intent on holding...
Out of all fish in the Northwest currently threatened with extinction, the National Marine Fisheries Service believes Oregon Coast Coho have the best chance at recovery in the next decade per the...
Feb 14, 2017
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposal to include hatchery programs as part of Pacific salmon and steelhead species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As a diverse...
Jan 2, 2017
Click here to view our November 2016 Conservation and Science Report.
Dec 5, 2016
Purpose of the Oregon Costal Hatchery Program and HGMPs The DEIS on Hatchery Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) is a standalone proposal unrelated to genetic and ecological impacts hatcheries have...
Nov 21, 2016
SILETZ — Francis “Doc” Reedy raises a pair of binoculars to his eyes and scans the large pool of still water where the north and south forks of the Siletz River come together. It doesn’t take him...
Click here to view our October 2016 Conservation and Science Report.
Nov 1, 2016
Click here to view our September 2016 Conservation and Science Report.
Oct 4, 2016
Great for the Elwha, Good for the Nisqually, Now Onto the Skagit August 16, 2016 (Oregon City) - Yesterday the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the designation of two new...
Aug 15, 2016
Since the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife released a press statement at Willamette Falls, there has been a public outcry about the conflict between wild winter steelhead and sea lions. Dr....
Aug 1, 2016
Since the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) released a press statement at Willamette Falls, there has been a public outcry about the conflict between wild winter steelhead and sea...
In 2008, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) committed to identify wild stock gene banks (WSGB) in Puget Sound to protect threatened wild steelhead from hatchery steelhead. In summer...
Jul 22, 2016
Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091 Subject: Wild Stock Gene Banks for ESA-listed Puget Sound steelhead Dear Commissioners, The...
December 31, 2015 To: Mr. Rob Walton National Marine Fisheries Service 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100 Portland, Oregon 97232 From: Native Fish Society 813 7th St, Suite...
Dec 31, 2015
Cathlamet, WA | Over the past six months I have worked with a collection of anglers, state and federal fish biologists, and local landowners to help advise the Washington Department of Fish and...
Jul 8, 2015
Life in a WDFW Wild Steelhead Gene Bank Work Group or How We Learned To Love the Science & Put the Recovery of Wild Fish First “Steelhead management shall place the highest priority on the...
Jul 15, 2014
State fish managers put Oregon coast’s wild fish in jeopardy Oregon City, OR: Two panels of independent scientists criticize the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Coastal Multi-species...
Jan 20, 2014
Victory for Wild Fish on the Sandy River January 17, 2014 (Portland) — “It is undisputed that hatchery operations can pose a host of risks to wild fish...it is clear that the Sandy River Basin is...
Jan 17, 2014
Dear Mr. Bill Bradbury, Chairman NW Power and Conservation Council851 S.W. Sixth AvenueSuite 1100Portland, Oregon 97204-1348 The Native Fish Society and the Wild Steelhead Coalition appreciate...
Sep 17, 2013
July 23, 2013 Governor John KitzhaberGovernor’s Office900 Court St. NESalem, OR 97301-4047 Re: Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan Dear Governor Kitzhaber: We, the...
Jul 23, 2013
Then As It Was, So Shall It Be Again History and Restoration After a year of stakeholder meetings held by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), the Wind River is on track to...
Jul 1, 2013
A WILD STEELHEAD GENE BANK ON THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA In June 2011, WDFW sought a second round of comments on the future of the guide run Snider Creek hatchery on the Sol Duc River. Wild Steelhead...
Sep 1, 2011
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