Ensuring Survival....
"....Are we to risk their existence for the sake of anglers, or do we have a larger responsibility as stewards of the environment to ensure that wild fish (and the evolutionary processes that shape their local adaptations) persist and ensure their survival in the long run? I would argue the latter."
Alosa,.... Your statement illustrates the dilemma facing CA DFW and all political entities in CA. Native vs Hatchery bred species. Hatcheries of all types were/are an attempt to mitigate for the loss of something necessary for their survival (habitat??) and required by existing law. Now, due to diversion of water from the Delta, we have the advent of "....conservation hatcheries...." for Delta Smelt and possibly other native Delta species. All in the name of mitigation.
In addition, there's the need to provide fish for license/permit holders for commercial and recreational uses (jobs/revenue). To make the point, in the recent past, a law was established that mandated funding of hatcheries on the south eastern side of the Sierra's. So, it doesn't look to me like hatcheries are going away anytime soon.
As a result of the current drought, both, federal and state legislators (politicians never wishing to waste a disaster) are currently making proposals to increase storage of water in the state in the form of new and raised dams, expanded reservoirs and diversions and increased management of water resources but not necessarily in favor of fish. Thus, will be the need for increased mitigation measures.
Given the current political atmosphere and the likelihood that one or more of these proposals will be passed and become law, when in your opinion do we cross the line into being unable to ensure the survival of all native species, not just Salmon, Steelhead, Trout. Are conservation hatcheries acceptable?? If so, what's the difference between conservation and mitigation hatcheries??? BTW, these questions are not meant as sarcasm.
Seems to me that this situation is already at a crisis level as some fisheries in this state are already crashing.
"America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote."
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