[ODFW-News] Scientists' Report Guides Development of Oregon's First Hatchery Research Center

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: Charlie Corrarino, 503/947-6213	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: 503/947-6202
	
For Immediate Release	Thursday, March 25, 2004
Scientists' Report Guides Development of Oregon's First Hatchery
Research Center

SALEM - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife continues to develop
Oregon's first Hatchery Research Center (HRC) at the site of Fall Creek
Hatchery near the town of Alsea. Research will be aimed at understanding
what creates differences between hatchery and wild fish and how managing
hatchery fish can help conserve and protect Oregon's native fish
populations while providing viable fisheries. 

No fish production for angling will occur at the facility and research
will be conducted in cooperation with Oregon State University (OSU) and
the Hatfield Marine Science Center. 

ODFW managers have been working to develop the HRC since last year when
the Governor and the Oregon Legislature provided funding for a research
facility. The Governor also has requested Congressional support for
federal funds to construct the HRC.

To design the research facility and determine high priority
experiments, ODFW enlisted the help of Oregon's Independent
Multidisciplinary Science Team (IMST), a scientific group that advises
the state on matters related to the Oregon Plan for Salmon and
Watersheds. The IMST held a workshop in October 2003 with distinguished
fisheries professionals from throughout the Pacific Northwest to define
research objectives and design elements needed for a state-of-the-art
facility. 


-MORE-
Hatchery Research Center, continued
"This facility will focus on new and unique research opportunities that
are not being conducted elsewhere in the region," said Dr. Carl Schreck,
who now co-chairs the IMST and is leader of the Oregon Cooperative Fish
and Wildlife Research Unit and a professor at OSU. "It's so important
for Oregon to have this opportunity to understand the characteristics
and interactions of both hatchery and naturally-produced fish,
especially coastal coho and steelhead populations." 

Schreck added that all research will tie in with the Oregon Plan and
shed light on management actions that might need changed to better
manage native salmon and steelhead populations. Research will also be
aligned with ODFW's Native Fish Conservation Policy and Hatchery
Management Policy.

In addition to research, the HRC will provide an educational
opportunity for the public.

"We're really looking forward to the opportunity to educate the public
on the relationship between hatchery and wild fish and their connection
to the broad landscape," said ODFW Fish Division Administrator Ed
Bowles. "The HRC will have an interpretive walk and visitor's center,
and we'll be able to schedule in-depth tours for schools and other
public groups."

Undergraduate and graduate programs and classes also will be conducted
at the site along with professional development opportunities for state
and federal agency natural resource professionals.

The IMST Scientific Workshop Summary Report and other background
information on the HRC can be found on ODFW's Web site at
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/hrc/IMST_report.pdf. 


###
Page 1 of 2



Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002