Fisheries experts from a wide variety of backgrounds agree significant changes and clarifications about funding, focus and management are needed to strengthen the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) National Fish Hatchery System. This unprecedented consensus within the fisheries community was reached after a year-long effort by the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (SFBPC).
The Councils recently released report, "Saving A System in Peril," was created by a 23-person steering committee comprised of fisheries professionals from organizations as diverse as BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society), Pure Fishing, Trout Unlimited, American Sportfishing Association, Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, National Aquaculture Association and state and federal agencies.
"Although there have been previous national efforts to coalesce stakeholders views about the National Fish Hatchery System, none has been as inclusive nor as consensus-driven as this effort by the Council," said FWS Acting Director Marshall Jones. "The report is a critical document that will be used as the Service creates a strategic plan for the system."
The Councils involvement in the project stemmed from a May 1999 letter from 10 members of the U.S. Congress who asked the Service to "convene a diverse committee that includes a broad spectrum of views regarding the hatchery systems future role...." In August 1999, the Service requested that the Council "build consensus among natural resource stakeholders to provide recommendations to assist in the development of the Services National Fish Hatchery System strategic plan." Jones said the Council will be invited to continue to advise the Service as the strategic plan is developed.
"I am deeply proud of the perseverance and vision the Councils hatchery project steering committee demonstrated throughout the entire process," said SFBPC Chair Helen Sevier. "Steering committee members and their employers donated many days of diligent work to cultivate the remarkable consensus achieved by the group. These experienced and committed fisheries leaders embraced the objective of instigating meaningful change for the National Fish Hatchery System. We look forward to working with the Service as it develops the strategic plan."
The National Fish Hatchery System, comprised of 70 national fish hatcheries, seven fish technology centers, and nine fish health centers, has serious problems. Funding for hatchery maintenance and operations dropped 15 percent in constant dollars since 1992; the system has more than a $280-million maintenance backlog; and one in four hatchery personnel positions is vacant. This erosion of support has left the system incapable of keeping pace with rapid evolutionary changes in fisheries science and technology.
In its report, the Council acknowledges the National Fish Hatchery Systems roles in meeting federal mitigation obligations, restoring and maintaining native fisheries, and participating in the recovery of threatened and endangered aquatic species. The report also states that the system is uniquely positioned to influence and benefit state and tribal fishery programs, fulfill tribal trust responsibilities, and provide technical assistance to private aquaculture. The report notes that the overriding considerations for fisheries conservation and management are:
