Plans Reviewed to Release Chum Salmon in Skagit River
Published Date: 6/2/2026
Notice
Summary
The government is reviewing new plans to raise and release chum salmon in the Skagit River area, involving local tribes and Washington’s fish department. They want your thoughts on these plans by July 2, 2026. These changes aim to protect endangered fish while supporting local communities, with no immediate costs to the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tribes propose chum hatcheries
NMFS has received three Hatchery and Genetics Management Plans to rear and release chum salmon in the Skagit River watershed. The plans were submitted by the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as co-managers, and the hatchery programs are described as harvest augmentation programs that support Tribal treaty fishing rights.
Possible ESA take exceptions for hatcheries
NMFS will evaluate whether the submitted HGMPs meet the criteria in 50 CFR 223.203(b)(5) and may make exceptions to ESA take prohibitions under Limit 6 of the salmon and steelhead 4(d) Rule to allow the described hatchery activities. The PEPD (Proposed Evaluation and Pending Determination) is NMFS' initial determination of how the HGMPs address those criteria.
Public comment period and deadline
NMFS is accepting public comments on the PEPD and the three HGMPs, and comments must be received by 5 p.m. Pacific time on July 2, 2026. Comments are submitted via Regulations.gov under docket NOAA-NMFS-2025-0834 and will generally be posted publicly.
HGMPs include research and monitoring
The submitted HGMPs include research and monitoring activities to study how the hatchery programs affect Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Puget Sound steelhead. Those monitoring activities are part of the plans NMFS is evaluating under the PEPD.
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