ACTION ALERT
Hi
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is obtaining information necessary to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as it considers Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) submitted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for early winter steelhead hatchery programs on these five watersheds: Dungeness, Nooksack, Stillaguamish, Skykomish and Snoqualmie. NMFS will be accepting public comment through August 13. TAKE ACTION.
Anti-hatchery groups such as the Wild Fish Conservancy are using every legal and procedural tool available to delay and stop NMFS from considering these and other HGMPs. Their ultimate goal is to shut down hatcheries, irrespective of the efficacy of these hatcheries or the expertise and judgment of federal biologists. WDFW has submitted over 155 salmon and steelhead HGMPs for NMFS' approval, but these hatcheries are at risk of litigation from anti-hatchery groups until they are approved.
Your email to NMFS is critical in encouraging our fisheries managers to see through these tactics and move forward with a common sense, science-based approach for considering these HGMPs. Please click below to send a pre-drafted email to NMFS or send your personalized comments directly to the NMFS representative Steve Leider at [email protected].
