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3. a long-term hatchery program to augment harvest above levels supported by 

 existing freshwater habitat, provided it is feasible to separate hatchery fish 

 from naturaily-spawning fish in freshwater habitats and in the fishery. 



The first scenario is the best possible role for hatcheries because: (a) 

 hatchery expenses can be terminated when self-sustainability is achieved; and (b) 

 restoration of a self-sustaining population also is a good indicator of iniproved 

 health of the overall watershed ecosystem. Temporary and less expensive 

 hatchery facilities may woric for this scenario. Conditions required for the third 

 scenario, harvest augmentation, will be hard to meet in many cases and would 

 require changes in harvest methods and management. Section 5 of the Strategy 

 for Salmon proposes testing of alternative harvest methods for selective harvest 

 of hatchery fish (Northwest Power Planning Council 1992). 



Another potential use of hatcheries for restoration involves release of 

 hatchery fish with the expectation that they will interbreed with the depleted, 

 naturally-spawning population and that the resulting mixed population will be 

 managed as one unit. This scenario is sometimes called "supplementation." The 

 merit of this approach is still an open question because such programs ha.ve not 

 yet been fully implemented and evaluated. This approach, for example, is 

 planned for new hatcheries in the Yakima subbasin of the Columbia River Basin. 

 To maximize learning about risks, benefits, and desirable modifications, a strong 

 commitment to monitoring and evaluation of this program is imperative. My 

 recommendation is to allow learning to proceed in a small number of carefully 

 chosen cases, such as the Yakima, before considering widespread adoption of this 

 approach. 



All hatchery programs must adopt the poal of maintaini ng existing generic 

 resources in naturally-spawning and hatchery salmo n populations. 



Genetic diversity exists among and within salmon populations. It is 

 imponant because it allows salmon populations to evolve and thus persist far into 

 the future. Sustainable restoration and maintenance of salmon populations can 

 only be achieved if these generic resources are maintained in perpetuity (Riggs 

 1990. Kapuscinski 1991). Adherence to this goal vnl\ require revision of many 

 current hatchery policies and practices in addition to proper hatchery monitoring 

 and evaluation. General recommendations for revisions and improved 

 coordination among salmon management programs appear in Kapuscinski (1991) 

 and Kapuscinski et al. (1991). Recently, an "bitegrated Hatchery Operations 

 Team" initiated development of a uniform hatchery policy for all Columbia Basin 

 fisheries programs (Jerry Bauer, Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, 

 OR. personal communication). The final draft policy must undergo rigorous and 

 independent scientific review to ensure that it is genetically sound and practicable. 



