Investments Bring Strong Victory for Fisheries
by Janet Tennyson
As a longstanding advocate for stronger investments in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s fisheries program, the American Sportfishing Association is sharing in a new sense of optimism among the fisheries community over last week’s announcement of a historic $8.1 million funding boost for the National Fish Hatchery System.
“Our fisheries need as much help as they can get, and that’s why we’ve been working side-by-side with other groups in the fisheries community for years, calling for these kinds of investments, ” said American Sportfishing Association Vice President Gordon Robertson. “This is fantastic news for fish, for fishing, and for our national fish hatcheries, which are finally being recognized for the valuable role they play in conservation and recreation in this country. It’s also testament to Director Steve Williams’ leadership and determination to improve the Fish and Wildlife Service’s fisheries efforts.”
Interior Department Secretary Gale Norton made the announcement during a national conference of 550 Fish and Wildlife Service fisheries employees and partners held last week in Washington, DC. Secretary Norton said the President’s formal budget request to the Congress for 2004—which won’t be officially unveiled for about another month—will include an additional $8.1 million for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s efforts to recover fish, battle invasive species, and repair deteriorating facilities on many of the nation’s 69 federal fish hatcheries.
About $5 million of this new funding will go to conservation projects for brook trout, Arctic grayling, salmon, greenback cutthroat trout, Atlantic sturgeon, and paddlefish, among others, and for new invasive species management projects for non-native carp. Fisheries experts will use captive breeding and various restoration measures to replenish fish to healthy waterways. National fish hatchery facilities, such as production ponds and passageways, will receive the other $3 million for repair.
The additional $8.1 million represents a 16 percent funding increase over last year’s hatchery budget, bringing the total budget request 2004 to $58 million.
