NOAA Reviews Tribal Plan to Revive Skokomish River Salmon
Published Date: 12/23/2025
Notice
Summary
The National Marine Fisheries Service is reviewing a new plan to raise and release several types of salmon and steelhead in Washington’s Skokomish River. This plan, managed by local tribes and agencies, aims to help fish survive without harming their homes. People have until January 22, 2026, to share their thoughts before the plan moves forward, with no extra costs expected for the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Hatchery programs to support fisheries
NMFS received a Hatchery and Genetics Management Plan for seven hatchery programs that would rear and release fall Chinook, spring Chinook, fall chum, sockeye, coho, and steelhead in the Skokomish River basin, Washington. The plan is intended to help reintroduce and recover these fish, support returns to the Skokomish River basin, maintain sustainable U.S. fisheries, strengthen the national seafood supply chain, and help fulfill federal trust responsibilities to Tribes; NMFS preliminarily concluded the plan "will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery nor modify or destroy critical habitat" for listed Hood Canal summer chum salmon, Puget Sound Chinook salmon, and Puget Sound steelhead.
Legal exception allows hatchery activities
The notice states NMFS may make exceptions to the Endangered Species Act "take" prohibitions for approved hatchery programs under 50 CFR 223.203(b). The HGMP was submitted pursuant to NMFS' Limit 6 of the ESA 4(d) Rule, which, if approved, would allow the described hatchery activities to proceed under those regulatory limits.
Public comment period open
You can submit public comments on the proposed hatchery plan (NOAA-NMFS-2025-0736) through the federal portal until 5 p.m. Pacific time on January 22, 2026. The notice states there are no extra costs expected for the public to participate.
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