ABOUT THE PUGET SOUND AND COASTAL WASHINGTON HATCHERY REFORM PROJECT
BACKGROUND
In a 1999 report to Congress a group of leading scientists determined that the potential exists for hatcheries to provide significant benefits to the recovery of naturally spawning salmon populations. Congress responded in 2000 by creating and funding the Puget Sound and Coastal Washington Hatchery Reform Project, a systematic, science-based redesign of hatchery programs to achieve two goals:
- help conserve wild salmon and steelhead populations; and
- support sustainable fisheries.
The appropriations language provided funding to:
- Establish an independent, scientific panel to ensure a scientific foundation for hatchery reform;
- Provide a competitive grant program for needed research on hatchery impacts;
- Support state and Tribal efforts to implement new hatchery reforms; and
- Provide for the facilitation of a reform strategy by an independent third party.
A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP
As part of the Hatchery Reform Project, Congress established the Hatchery Scientific Review Group (HSRG) as the independent scientific panel at the heart of the reform process, and designated Long Live the Kings (LLTK) as the project's independent, third-party facilitator. LLTK's role included providing facilitation and project coordination to the HSRG and the Hatchery Reform Coordinating Committee, and helping the managers communicate hatchery reform progress to Congress, state legislators, stakeholder groups, and the public. LLTK retained the law firm of Gordon Thomas Honeywell to serve with LLTK staff on the facilitation team.
The Hatchery Reform Coordinating Committee serves as the vehicle for cooperative management and recognizes the Washington State and Tribal co-manager relationship and the responsibility of the co-managers to develop policy and ultimately to implement hatchery reform. The committee members are:
- Billy Frank Jr., Chairman, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC)
- Mike Grayum, Executive Director, NWIFC
- David Troutt, Natural Resources Director, Nisqually Tribe
- Terry Williams, Commissioner of Fisheries and Natural Resources, The Tulalip Tribes
- Jeff Koenings, Director, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
- Larry Peck, Deputy Director, WDFW
- Dan Diggs, Assistant Regional Fisheries Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- Doug DeHart, USFWS
- Bob Lohn, Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries
- Rob Jones, Fisheries, Hatchery and Inland Programs Branch Chief, NOAA Fisheries
- Pete Bergman, Frank Haw and Terry Wright, former members of the Congressional Hatchery Science Advisory Team
- Barbara Cairns, Executive Director, Long Live the Kings
The project has received bipartisan support from key regional leaders, including U.S. Representative Norm Dicks (D-WA); Washington Governor Christine Gregoire (D); U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA); Former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA); NWIFC Chair Billy Frank, Jr.; WDFW Director Jeff Koenings; and Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board Chair William Ruckelshaus.
The Hatchery Reform Project brings together a unique combination of independent science, manager involvement, political support, and third-party project coordination that has proven to be a highly effective formula. The partnership is guided by the assumption that the best way to help the state and Tribes succeed in the monumental task of moving their hatchery system from its 19th-century roots to a 21st-century future is to let the scientists focus on science and the managers on management. The scientific recommendations assess benefits and risks, but leave the "how-tos" to the managers.
For more information about project partners, please visit our "Contact Us" page.
|
