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23 



4.1 Agency Policies on Indirect Genetic Impacts 



Documents of IDFG, ODFW, WDW, and a FWS draft have clauses related to 

 indirect genetic impacts of hatchery fish whereas WDF and approved FWS 

 documents do not. 



4.2 Policy in FWS Documents 



The draft FWS-3 indirectly refers to this issue by prohibiting fish stocking 

 where it "will threaten the persistence or reduce the productivity (recruits 

 per spawners) of viable populations of the same or different species." 

 Criteria for evaluating this threat should be developed. FWS-6, which 

 guides activities only at the Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery, 

 prohibits escapement of fin-clipped hatchery fish above the hatchery 

 location. Also, FWS-7 is a Region 1 "policy on stocking fish at other than 

 designated sites." It addresses emergencies when fish held in a 

 distribution truck cannot be released at their designated site. While the 

 intent of this policy may be interpreted to be protection of genetic 

 resources of naturally-reproducing stocks, explicit statements to that effect 

 are missing for "designated" and "alternate" sites. 



4.3 Policy in IDFG Documents 



Partly in recognition of indirect genetic effects, no new hatchery programs 

 were implemented during 1985-1990 (IDFG-1, p. 21). Major expansions of 

 hatchery production are planned for the near future "as mitigation for 

 losses to Idaho runs attributed to lower Snake River hydroelectric dams 

 (IDFG-4)." The 1990-1995 Anadromous Fisheries Plan, currently in a 

 draft not ready for public review (Steve Yundt, IDFG, personal 

 communication), may have guidelines to prevent indirect genetic impacts 

 of these expansions. 



4.4 Policy in ODFW Documents 



ODFW-1 limits "the number of all naturally spawning hatchery fish to no 

 more than 50% of the total number of naturally spawning hatchery and 

 wild fish." The use of a constant percentage value is inconsistent with the 

 goal of genetic conservation. A different limit on hatchery fish may be 

 advisable in different cases. The appropriate number will depend on the 

 purpose of the hatchery program (e.g., stock rehabilitation versus stock 

 enhancement), the population dynamics of the naturally spawning stocks, 

 and the carrying capacity of the habitat. 



