Wild steelhead & trout win over hatchery fish?

[Papasequoia]

Gee, how did that happen? From the Modesto Bee (first seen on Midcurrent)

SACRAMENTO -- A federal judge on Monday upheld protections for wild steelhead trout in California rivers, rejecting an argument by forestry groups that said the success of hatchery-raised steelhead has made the population sufficiently robust.

U.S. District Court Judge Oliver Wanger in Fresno disagreed. He said hatchery-raised fish are no substitute for wild steelhead.

While science shows that hatchery fish can be beneficial, they also can be detrimental to wild steelhead, Wanger wrote in his 168-page ruling.

Steelhead are listed as threatened or endangered in different parts of California.

In a related claim, the judge rejected a bid by Central Valley farmers to remove steelhead trout from the federal Endangered Species Act. The farmers pointed to an abundance of resident rainbow trout, steelhead that do not migrate to the ocean.

The Modesto Irrigation District had argued that rainbow trout are essentially the same species as wild steelhead. Wanger agreed with federal wildlife scientists, who have said wild steelhead are distinct and indispensable to the survival of the species.

The rulings signify another victory for federal wildlife agencies and the fishing and conservation groups that had intervened in the cases.

It is the third instance in two years in which a federal court has rejected arguments that hatchery fish ought to be counted as part of salmon or steelhead populations, said Steve Mashuda, an attorney at Earthjustice, a nonprofit group that represented the conservation and fishing groups.

Studies have shown that while wild and hatchery fish in a river may be genetically the same, they have behavioral differences that make wild fish more successful at surviving. Hatcheries can boost overall numbers of fish in a stream, but the fish they release also have poor reproduction rates and can compete with wild fish for food and mates. In some cases, they can hurt the sustainability of wild fish stocks, scientists have found.

[DubL HauL]

outstanding

Andy

[Flyjunkie]

NOw that is Something to celebrate!!!!!!!

Biologists have constantly stated that Hatchery Fish are not as Strong as Wild Stocks, are more likely to catch the various Illnesses that have happened to hatcheries over the Years..(remember what happened at Black Rock Hatchery a handful of years ago???) and should Never be used in Population counts....

I'm sure the Farmers and Loggers will try to contest this latest Ruling... We Must be ever Watchful....

[Benny]

Yup, great news for sure. I read the the news on The Trout Underground blog a couple of days ago.

[StevenOjai]

It's always nice to have faith restored in our government system... Jon, you refer to "forestry groups" as proponents to have hatchery trout included within the species counts? As a Forester, myself, I don't understand why "forestry groups" would take that position. I thought the proponents were the major water users such as PG&E and the Irrigation Districts demanding additional water.
Regards, Steve

[rayfound]

Jon, you refer to "forestry groups" as proponents to have hatchery trout included within the species counts? As a Forester, myself, I don't understand why "forestry groups" would take that position. I thought the proponents were the major water users such as PG&E and the Irrigation Districts demanding additional water.
Regards, Steve

Steve, in fairness to Jon, he didn't say that. He copied the text from the Article on midcurrent.

[Papasequoia]

Thanks Ray, that's correct, everything after the word "Sacramento" is copied from the news article. However, Steve, I agree, it doesn't appear to make sense on the surface. There must be more to it than that.

[StevenOjai]

Sorry about misreading your initial thread, Jon. The opening line concerning "Forestry Groups" caught my eye and I felt compelled to comment. I don't know why the reporter would use that term and , then, refer to Cental Valley farmers and Irrigation Districts. Forestry within California concerns itself with the management of Forestland. A primary aspect of the California Forest Practices Act is for the protection of watershed. Most Foresters, I know, are also fishermen. Any moves to remove protections to wild trout and steelhead would be frowned upon by most foresters.
Steve