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Question 8: The Council's program and Bonneville's funding have created the expectation among 

 the tribes that treaty fishing rights will be addressed through increased artificial 

 production. However, NMFS's current discussions of the role of artificial 

 production have stalled construction of new tribal hatcheries. What are you doing 

 to resolve this stalemate and when do you expect to resolve it? 



Answer: The apparent stalemate between the Fisheries Service and the tribes centers on very 



complex, fundamental fisheries management issues. The delay is affecting not only 

 tribal proposals but the development of all artificial production facilities in the 

 region. At stake is the future of artificial production in the Columbia Basin. 

 Though BPA has been an active participant in the implementation of the Council's 

 program, funding most of the recent construction of production facilities, this 

 decision ultimately remains the responsibility of the resource managers. We have an 

 interest in the outcome of discussions since we see supplementation, the use of 

 genetically selected fish bred in a production facility and reared in a wild 

 environment, as a potentially significant component of any region- wide rebuilding 

 effort for wild fish. Our concerns also extend to the need for the protection of 

 unique genetic resources from possible dilution resulting fi^om straying We are 

 closely monitoring the issue and are willing to assist the Fisheries Service and the 

 tribes as appropriate, but defer to the responsible fisheries management agencies in 

 the region to break the deadlock. 



Concurrently, BPA, the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service, and regional agencies and 

 tribes have embarked on a Comprehensive Analysis of Anadromous Fish Production 

 which will evaluate the role/impacts of artificial production on naturally spawning 

 stocks. The analysis may help define the need for specific facilities and how they 

 may be operated to decrease impacts to stocks of concern. 



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