Written by Kathryn Kostow, ODFW, who has been on the forefront of this issue for a long time...I haven't had a chance to read it yet, and I don't think it's available online anywhere, but I have it on my computer and can e-mail to folks if they are interested.

It's titled "Factors that contribute to the ecological risks of salmon and steelhead hatchery programs and some mitigating strategies", and presumably describes the competition and genetic problems surrounding our current hatchery programs, and then some techniques for mitigating or avoiding them altogether.

It will be published in the "Reviews of Fish Biology and Fisheries".

Here's the Abstract:

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Abstract State and federal agencies in the United States annually release millions of hatchery salmon and steelhead into public waters. Many of the hatchery programs are located in areas where the wild populations are now listed under the U.S.
Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. §§ 1531–1544). These hatchery programs pose genetic and ecological risks to wild fish populations. Genetic risks occur when hatchery and wild fish interbreed and usually occur within a taxonomic species. Ecological risks occur when the presence of hatchery fish affects how wild fish interact with their environment or with other species and may affect whole species assemblages. This paper reviews some of the factors that contribute to ecological risks.

Important contributing factors include the relative abundance of hatchery and wild fish in natural production areas, hatchery programs that increase density-dependant mortality, residual hatchery fish, some physical advantages that hatchery fish can have over wild fish, and life history characteristics that may make some species especially vulnerable to the effects of ecological risks. Many of these risk factors
can be mitigated by management activities that reduce the level of interactions between hatchery and wild fish. This paper concludes by recommending twelve mitigation strategies that may be useful when agencies need to bring hatchery
programs into compliance with the take provisions of the ESA.

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It's 21 pages long, and is in .pdf format...as always, whomever wants a copy needs only ask and give me their e-mail address!

Fish on...

Todd

You know I'm in... send a copy my way brother.

It's on its way, Francis.

Fish on...

Todd

Moi aussi, si-vous plait!

I'd like a copy Todd.

Thanks.

Todd,

If you don't mind could you forward me a copy as well.

thanks.....Brian

Michael and Brian...on the way...Eric, I can't find your e-mail address...please forward it to me and I'll get it to you.

Fish on...

Todd

Informational gridloss.

Eric, it's on the way.

Joe...Joe?

Oh.

Fish on...

Todd

Please send me a copy, Thanks in advance.

Todd- can I get a copy as well please?

Um yeah, what I meant to say was... Could you hand deliver me copies in five-plicate printed on Zig-Zag papers accompanied by a twelve ?

BN, it's on the way...same to the others who sent their request via PM or e-mail.

Joe, lemme get that for ya...

Fish on...

Todd

i'll take a copy please.. thank you

jeswade@yahoo.com

Perhaps the following sentence best sums up the paper/issue -

"Hatchery operational plans need to be developed case-by-case in individual watersheds folllowing comprehensive review and analysis of each program and the wild populations with which they interact."

That as a guideline coupled with the goal of maintaining as productive as possible wild populations should serve the resouce well and in the end us fishers as well.

Tight lines
Curt

i would like a copy please

It's on its way, Larry.

Could I get a copy please? Thanks,

fb

fishbadger@chartermi.net

Me too, please.

slab, shoot me your e-mail addy...