Harvest and hatcheries are two of the four Hs; the others are habitat and hydropower. The four Hs are human-controlled factors that affect salmon species’ survival and recovery. NOAA Fisheries oversees salmon harvest and hatchery activities as part of agency responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Harvest includes commercial, recreational and tribal fishing. Management of those fisheries in the Northwest is a cooperative process involving federal, state, tribal and Canadian representatives. There are different management responsibilities and mechanisms depending on where the fishing is done and who is doing it.

Hatcheries Artificial propagation is any assistance provided by man in Pacific salmon reproduction. Hatcheries are artificial propagation facilities designed to produce fish for harvest, or for escaping harvest to spawn. A conservation hatchery differs from a production hatchery since it specifically tries to supplement or restore naturally spawning salmon populations. Artificial propagation, especially the use of production hatcheries, has been a prominent feature of Pacific salmon fisheries enhancement efforts for several decades. The recent decline of many natural populations has prompted the development of another role for artificial propagation: assisting in conservation of salmon populations.