8 – Artificial Production and the Effects of Fish Culture on Native Salmonids

Artificial propagation has failed to achieve the objective of replacing the natural production that was lost because of habitat degradation in the Columbia basin. The operations including broodstock selection, interbasin transfers, and release practices have contributed to the decline of natural production and the loss of locally adapted stocks in the basin. This chapter describes the history of the hatchery program in the Columbia Basin. It outlines the benefits of hatchery programs, describes the biological effects of hatcheries on wild populations, and discusses the influence of hatcheries on salmon management. Belief in the efficacy of artificial propagation led to disproportionate budgets for habitat protection and restoration. In the 128-year history of the artificial propagation in the Columbia Basin, the program has never been subjected to a comprehensive evaluation. The ecological, behavioral, and energetic interactions of hatchery fish with native species and fish assemblages of the Columbia River ecosystem have not been evaluated. In the operation of hatcheries, those interactions are generally assumed to be inconsequential, benign, or outside the concern or responsibility of the hatchery program managers. The chapter also discusses the future role of hatcheries, including the supplementation and conservation programs.