Hatchery Reform on the Table in Oregon as ODFW Launches Public Engagement Process

A System in Need of Reassessment

Warming rivers; wildfires; aging infrastructure; supply cost increases; conflicts with wild fish conservation and recovery. Just a few of the reasons it’s time for the state of Oregon and the public to take a good hard look at the future of Oregon's hatchery system.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) held a kickoff meeting on June 27th to begin the public engagement process for a comprehensive assessment of the state’s hatchery system. This effort aims to evaluate the state's hatchery operations, considering factors like economics, climate vulnerability, and impacts on the conservation and recovery of wild fish populations. 

The initiative is focused on a key portion of Oregon's hatchery system–the 14 facilities owned by the state. These hatcheries raise a variety of salmon and steelhead as well as resident trout and have long played a role in fisheries management, particularly in Oregon’s coastal watersheds. 

Yet these facilities are facing a diversity of issues that make it difficult for the agency to continue status quo operations over the coming decades. (Read more about how this initiative got started in our previous update). Understanding that there are strongly held perspectives surrounding hatcheries, the department has hired a third-party facilitator to lead a public engagement process. 

The June kickoff meeting highlighted the diverse needs of stakeholders. Some advocated for continued hatchery investment and modernization, while others emphasized the importance of prioritizing wild fish conservation and habitat restoration efforts. 

Open Dialogue, Diverse Viewpoints: Charting a New Course for Oregon's Fisheries

Some may view the debate over hatcheries as an intractable "war" with entrenched positions. While finding a workable solution that departs from the status quo may be challenging, it's not impossible.

I urge all of us to come to the table, be willing to listen openly to the information presented in the analyses, and engage in good faith with the diversity of viewpoints represented. At the end of the day, I’m hopeful that we may be able to help the agency chart a path forward that balances the diverse needs of stakeholders while supporting the long-term health and resilience of Oregon's native, wild fish populations.

What's Next? How You Can Be Involved.

The good news is ODFW is creating space to hear from the public and interested stakeholders throughout this process. Here's how you, as a supporter of wild fish and healthy rivers, can make your voice heard:

ODFW will hold a series of public meetings and webinars throughout the summer. The next phase will include three webinars presenting the findings of the third-party assessments. Visit ODFW’s website for more details and to register. Meetings will also be live-streamed and available as a recording on the ODFW YouTube Channel.

• First Webinar - Looking Ahead: Assessing Future Need for Hatcheries
  Date & Time: Thursday, August 1, 12pm-1pm

  ODFW will lay groundwork for the review with a summary of ongoing and projected environmental changes (e.g., temperature, flow) that are affecting fish populations and hatchery operations in Oregon.

• Second Webinar - Looking Ahead: Hatchery Economics and Fish Stock Trends
  Date & Time: Thursday, August 8, 12pm-1pm

  This webinar will cover two topics. First, ODFW will summarize results of a third-party economic analysis of Oregon’s state-owned hatcheries. The analysis includes a description of current operating costs and economic benefits of hatchery production. ODFW will also summarize findings from an assessment of the likely impact of climate change on the future viability of hatchery programs. ODFW rears and releases many different species/stocks—some of which will likely do better in future than others.

• Third Webinar - Looking Ahead: Infrastructure Challenges and Opportunities
  Date & Time: Thursday, August 15, 12pm-1pm

  This third webinar summarizes the results of a third-party assessment of the climate vulnerability of each facility, the costs and benefits of infrastructure investments in each state-owned hatchery facility, and whether an alternative to the current model could improve the system’s sustainability.

• Attend the ODFW Hatchery Assessment Public Meeting #2
  Date & Time: Wednesday, August 28th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
  Location: ODFWs Commission Room (4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, OR 97302)

  • The meeting will also be accessible remotely via this link.

• Share your perspective: ODFW will establish a dedicated platform for public comment. We will share this information as soon as it becomes available, allowing you to directly express your concerns and recommendations for a future that prioritizes healthy wild fish populations.

By actively participating in this process, we can ensure the ODFW's Hatchery Resilience Initiative leads to a future that safeguards Oregon's native fish and the ecosystems they depend on. Let's work together to ensure a sustainable future for Oregon's iconic fisheries!