Tribal hatchery officials concerned by Wild Fish Conservancy lawsuit

Tribal officials are expressing concern over the implications of a lawsuit seeking to halt federal funding for 62 hatcheries along the Columbia River.

The Duvall, Wash.-based Wild Fish Conservancy is suing the National Marine Fisheries Service and the federal Department of Commerce, saying the agencies aren’t ensuring that the hatcheries won’t harm endangered stocks of salmon and steelhead.

The conservancy argues that since at least 1999, the fisheries service has failed to comply with Endangered Species Act requirements for nearly all 62 hatcheries.

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/tribal-hatchery-officials-concerned-by-wild-fish-conservancy-lawsuit/article_e5fa5158-fbc4-11e5-a4c7-77c7f217b581.html