NOAA 2004-R910A
— PDF Version of Letter |
NOAA
News Releases 2004 NOAA Home Page NOAA Public Affairs |
May 14, 2004 Dear Member of Congress: I am writing to inform you about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) upcoming proposals to renew listings of Northwest salmon populations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), to explain how hatcheries will be taken into account in the proposals, and to correct recent erroneous accounts of how our hatchery policy will be used. At President Bush’s direction, recovery of salmon is the major focus for NOAA in the Pacific Northwest, an objective widely shared in the region and the nation. We have been pleased to work with you and Congress to direct over $100 million of NOAA’s budget, and hundreds of millions more from other federal agencies to the cause of salmon recovery this year alone. These substantial resources are enabling the hard work of countless communities to improve hundreds of miles of fish habitat, to enhance fish passage to the habitat, and to rebuild fish stocks in order to re-establish sustainable natural salmon populations. Combined with favorable ocean conditions, this hard work is producing dramatic increases in nearly all of the salmon runs. Much work remains to be done to expand the habitat to support future generations of naturally spawning populations. NOAA will shortly propose a renewed set of listings of salmon populations under ESA. Since 1991, the federal government has listed 26 species of salmon and steelhead in the Northwest and California for protection under ESA. In a lawsuit that followed these listings, a federal judge set aside the listing of Oregon Coast Coho salmon because NOAA failed to include closely-related hatchery fish in the listing decision. Since the same flaw was present in almost all of the other listing decisions, NOAA voluntarily agreed to reconsider all of our earlier listing decisions and to adjust our policy for considering hatchery fish in making those decisions – and NOAA will be asking the public to comment on both. NOAA’s decisions are driven by the science, which suggests benefits, risks, and uncertainties regarding salmon hatcheries. Simply put, some well-managed conservation hatcheries are fostering recovery of species, some hatcheries are having little or no effect, and some hatcheries potentially hinder recovery. After re-evaluating the listing of 26 species of
salmon and steelhead, and considering the science on hatcheries,
we have preliminarily determined to propose relisting at least 25
of the 26 species, with evaluation of the remaining species still
underway. A final proposal will be completed in the next two weeks
and the new hatchery policy will be only one factor for the evaluation
still under way. The communities of the Northwest have set high standards for their stewardship of land and water and NOAA urges them to continue this important work. NOAA strongly applauds the inspiring collaborative efforts underway in communities across the Northwest states and is pleased to be one of the region’s most committed partners. Sincerely, Conrad
C. Lautenbacher Jr. |