A so-called environmental group, Wild Fish Conservancy, filed a lawsuit to stop the release of 1 million winter steelhead into the rivers that empty into the Puget Sound. The lawsuit was recently settled with an agreement that the state will release 180,000 young steelhead into the Skykomish River. This diminished release affects nine hatcheries and the remaining majority of hatchery steelhead produced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in this region. Steelhead must be released by mid-May or they won’t migrate, decreasing the return runs of steelhead in future years.
This group doesn’t want hatchery fish mingling with the wild steelhead; it says hatchery fish are “reducing the habitat available for the wild fish.” Kurt Beardslee, executive director of WFC, was quoted, “There’s no doubt that there would be a number of rivers that there would be no fishing to allow these fish to rebound, but as a society we have a responsibility to our children and our children’s children.”
Well, I’m a lifelong fisherman who saw all three of my kids catch their first steelhead and now have grandchildren fishing. Future generations should have the opportunity — and the right — of catching a steelhead. Local fishermen might ask what does this have to do with our rivers? Well, it could be the Kalama or Cowlitz rivers next. Join the fight with our fellow fishermen up north by contacting your state representatives.
Dale Combs
Woodland
