The Pacific Northwest wild vs. hatchery fish debate has ramped up a bit recently as a result of some advocacy work on behalf of wild fish.
A plan for wild steelhead gene banks in SE Washington, a recent successful Native Fish Society lawsuit on the Sandy, and a Wild Fish Conservancy notice to file a lawsuit against the hatchery programs in the Puget Sound basin has lit a fire under the pro-hatchery base.
What the Native Fish Society and Other Radical Groups Do Not Want You to Know
Why The Wild Fish Conservancy Needs To Rethink Its Threatened Lawsuit
There is even a well organized media campaign around polishing the hatchery turd.
Unfortunately the hatchery vs. wild fish debate resembles the debate around global climate change. Chances are nobody is going to change the other sides opinion, no matter what the science says, and you pretty much know which side of the political aisle each side resides.
So this should add a little more fuel to the fire.
Four conservation groups are seeking an injunction in federal court to stop hatchery coho and steelhead from being used to boost the Elwha River salmon run and to stop the removal of wild salmon to use in hatchery breeding.
LINK (via: The Peninsula Daily)
We're on the precipice of squandering a once in a lifetime opportunity on the Elwha. No matter which side of the hatchery fence you sit on we should be able to agree that we can give this one up for wild fish.