Wild steelhead pocketed a decisive win last week, when Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced it would cease hatchery plantings of “Chambers Creek” populations in all Puget Sound tributaries, except the Skykomish.
For the next two and a half years, NOAA Fisheries will evaluate each specific hatchery program using the contemptible stock. While the Skagit River will see a 12-year moratorium on all hatchery plants. Finally, under the court-established terms, the Wild Fish Conservancy will not sue WDFW over its Puget Sound hatchery programs.
For now.
“This agreement is a giant win for Puget Sound’s wild steelhead and their recovery,” said Kurt Beardslee, executive director of WFC.
