A pending lawsuit by an environmental group is the latest challenge to federal salmon and steelhead hatcheries on the Columbia River, a decades-old system that has also faced congressional scrutiny in recent years. Although salmon propagation practices do merit ongoing re-examination, defunding these Mitchell Act hatcheries would be a serious mistake.

The Wild Fish Conservancy, a small advocacy group based in Duvall, Washington argues that federal agencies that provide money for the hatcheries haven’t coordinated their actions and aren’t in compliance with the Endangered Species Act. According to the group, federal hatcheries harm “ESA-listed species and their critical habits through a variety of mechanisms, including facility effects, fish removal activities, genetic and ecological interactions, harvest and monitoring and evaluation.”

The federal hatcheries, along with others operated by the states, are largely responsible for maintaining salmon runs now that the river system is dammed. The result of compromises hammered out between many parties, including the Columbia River treaty tribes, the hatcheries are a vital lifeline for the economies of many communities.

“Carefully managed hatcheries play a critical role in Columbia Basin salmon recovery by rebuilding salmon populations while supporting fisheries,” said Paul Lumley, executive director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. “Lawsuits like these could hurt salmon recovery efforts and distract us from the bigger picture of working together to reform hatchery practices.”

Liz Hamilton, executive director of the Northwest Sportsfishing Industry Association, pointed out that killing hatchery funding would also mean loss of tens of millions in funding for conservation and recovery.

The state of Washington’s separate move to designate some Columbia tributaries for wild steelhead also generates some concern in river communities, but is a far more deliberative plan than the wholesale withdrawal of funding WFC advocates for federal hatcheries.

Fisheries management by lawsuit is never a good idea.