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14 

 Finally, your letter asked that we address the differences 

 between NMFS and the tribes over artificial production. There 

 has been much confusion over the role of hatcheries under the 

 ESA. NMFS has developed an interim artificial propagation policy 

 to guide us in meeting ESA requirements. Our policy is designed 

 to define the role of conservation and mitigation hatcheries 

 while maintaining and restoring listed populations in their 

 native ecosystems. Accordingly, our policy distinguishes between 

 hatcheries used for the conservation of listed species and 

 hatcheries used to produce salmon for harvest as mitigation for .^ 

 habitat lost through development. Conservation hatcheries are 

 only needed for listed species in severe emergencies when the 

 population hovers near extinction. 



Hatcheries used for production and mitigation are an integral 

 part of the Pacific Northwest and are vital to the abundance of 

 salmon. NMFS recognizes we must use some hatcheries to support 

 fisheries, especially when habitat no longer exists to maintain 

 production. Yet even as ve use production and mitigation 

 hatcheries to promote harvest, we must minimize their impact on 

 listed species. Some hatcheries in the past were a major reason 

 for problems for wild populations. For example, the releases of 

 fall Chinook into the Umatilla River resulted in straying of 

 these fish into the Snake River, where they crossed with wild 

 salmon. The distinct Snake River populations were faced with the 

 loss of their natural genetic material. 



75-542 - 94 - 10 



