Fish conservation

[2pt]

Just a quick thought  replies welcome

If our Indian tribes are guaranteed 50% of Washington States fish shouldn't they be responsible for 50% of the conservation efforts?

FYI I'm reading a Seattle Weekly article about tribal issues in the skagit valley

[2pt]

I don't know how much they contribute so that's one disclaimer? Anybody know figures? Do they pay for hatcheries? Stock lakes? Im not sure what the difference is in the amount of money they pay total and what the state pays total?

[wraithen]

They do far more than most people realize, they just don't advertise it.

[2pt]

I know they do a lot of habitat studies and fish counts but it seems like they are more concerned with native fish. I just think maybe they benefit more from the efforts of the WDFW??? I don't know, it's a tough issue

[2pt]

Also this article is a must read for any sport fisherman in Washington.

[PlateauNDN]

You can research on the net for more info. In regards to the topic or just search on here its been brought up more times than I at least can recall.  Tribes do a lot but are not public about it and a lot of tribes fund and operate hatcheries. Whether owned by tribes or other entities.  There's a lot of info. If you look, CMR.I.T.F.C. Is for treaty Tribes on the Columbia and NW Fish Commission is for all westside tribes.

[Dhoey07]

The new hatchery going in at Wells is half indian half state I believe 

[2pt]

Thanks for the replies I'll do some more research on the web

[runamuk]

Just a quick thought  replies welcome

If our Indian tribes are guaranteed 50% of Washington States fish shouldn't they be responsible for 50% of the conservation efforts?

FYI I'm reading a Seattle Weekly article about tribal issues in the skagit valley

if by conservation do you mean farmed fish ie hatcheries?  or do you mean dam removal? or restoration of streambeds?  never quite sure what people are talking about when discussing this....

for what its worth the state got out of the fish farming business for the most part, they found it costing more than the rewards ie they lost money ....so most hatcheries are now run by tribes or private individuals/groups...

[PlateauNDN]

2pt, I just read this article thought you might like it.

Squaxin Island Tribe makes sure state hatchery can release chinook
Aug 23rd, 2012 • Category: News

The Squaxin Island Tribe recently intervened and contributed $72,000 to prevent a 75 percent cut in chinook production at the state’s salmon hatchery in Tumwater.
 
“If the tribe hadn’t been able to help the state, only one million chinook would’ve been released,” said Jeff Dickison, assistant natural resources director for the tribe. Production at the Deschutes River facility has been steady at 4 million chinook, but because of a shortfall in legislative funding, production would have crashed to 1 million. Production has been as high as 12 million fall chinook salmon at the facility since the program began in the 1950s.
 
Chinook from the Deschutes contribute to fisheries throughout the region. “This chinook run, at the far southern head of Puget Sound, is incredibly important because these fish are caught everywhere from Alaska to Budd Inlet,” said Joe Peters, harvest biologist for the tribe. “And, actually, the vast majority of these fish are caught in sport fisheries between Everett and Tacoma.”
 
The run’s contribution to fisheries and the local culture comes despite of limitations it faces to find good habitat. “Almost as soon as these fish leave for the ocean, they enter an incredibly degraded estuary,” Dickison said. So-called Capitol Lake and the alterations of lower Budd Inlet make for extremely poor marine transition conditions. This is where salmon smolt as they adapt to salt water.
 
A shrinking state budget over the last few years has put pressure on natural resources agencies, especially on salmon hatchery production. “The money the state spends on DFW is less than one percent of the entire state budget and has shrunk over the last decade,” Dickison said. Since 2001 the portion of the state budget spent on DFW has shrunk from .68 percent to .56 percent.
 
“The tribe had to jump in at the last minute to save these fish,” Dickison said. “The decision from the legislature to cut funding didn’t give us much time to consider what to do with production on the Deschutes.”
 
“The tribe is interested in making sure our treaty right to harvest salmon is preserved. These chinook are an important part of our fishing culture and economy,” Andy Whitener, tribal Natural Resources Director said. “Fishing on these salmon is important to the tribe and to non-tribal sport fishermen, too. We’re glad everyone will be able to fish on this run.”
 
(END)
 
For more information, contact: Andy Whitener, natural resources director, Squaxin Island Tribe, (360) 432-3809. Jeff Dickison, assistant natural resources director, Squaxin Island Tribe, (360) 432-3815. Emmett O’Connell, information officer, NWIFC, (360) 528-4304, eoconnell@nwifc.org


Here's some more info. for you to check out.

http://nwifc.org/2012/06/nwifc-magazine-tribes-keep-hatchery-programs-running/

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Very good read. Thanks for posting!

[Special T]

2pt, can you share a link? or is it on paper?

[DOUBLELUNG]

If the treaty obligations didn't exist, the FCRPS would probably not spend much on non-listed Columbia river salmon and steelhead.  Most of what the feds do for Columbia River hatchery production, is driven by their treaty tribe obligations.  There would be far fewer hatcheries w/o the treaties, even if the tribes aren't actually paying the funding.