Applications of Hatchery Reform

Hatchery reform is an important focus of recovery efforts for salmon and steelhead populations in the Pacific Northwest.  The Hatchery Scientific Review Group (HSRG) recommends that management of hatchery programs be guided by three hatchery reform principles:  1) Develop specific, quantifiable conservation and harvest goals for natural and hatchery populations, 2) Design and operate programs in a scientifically defensible manner, and 3) Monitor, evaluate, and adaptively manage hatchery programs.  While these principles are universal, implementation of hatchery reform differs from case to case.  We illustrate this with three examples of hatchery reform and discuss the different management strategies developed for each program.  The Redfish Lake sockeye program is designed to prevent population extinction, conserve the genetic identity and diversity of the population, and increase the abundance of natural-origin adult returns.  The Chief Joseph Hatchery program has both conservation and harvest objectives for summer/fall Chinook.  Finally, the Willapa Bay salmon hatchery programs have harvest as the primary objective, but must also be managed consistent with conservation goals for natural spawning populations.  We will highlight some of the issues with managing these programs and also explore solutions.