U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler tours the Toledo wastewater treatment facility in May.
It seems that Jaime Herrera Beutler is a friend of fish, and fishermen. Earlier this month, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved the 2017 rendition of the Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill, which included fish-friendly provisions intended to improve hatchery production efforts while preventing hatchery facilities from closing. The bill also sets aside funds to reclaim and refurbish wild fish habitat. The fish-specific language in the bill was implemented in large part thanks to efforts from Herrera Beutler.
“The fight to protect and restore Southwest Washington’s salmon populations is important to the economy and quality of life throughout the Northwest," said Herrera Beutler in a press release. “As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am committed to using taxpayer dollars in a responsible way and I am proud of how this bill targets specific hatchery management needs to ensure our community’s salmon restoration efforts can accomplish responsible stewardship of our unique wildlife and way of life in the Pacific Northwest."
Several portions of the bill pertain directly to fish issues. In the commerce section of the bill, the funding for salmon management activities at hatcheries was increased by $4 million to $35.5 million. There are 12 salmon hatcheries in Southwest Washington alone, and those hatcheries are credited with creating 1,300 jobs and $50 million in economic activity.
A $1 million increase in funds for salmon hatchery compliance was also included in the bill. That increase bumps the total allocations for hatchery compliance to $5 million. Those funds are intended to help hatchery programs meet standards required by the National Marine Fishery Service.
Currently there is an administrative bottleneck preventing hatcheries from being approved and recognized as compliant with the Endangered Species Act. That backlog has put numerous hatcheries in jeopardy of being shut down.
The National Marine Fisheries Services is currently reviewing plans for 26 Columbia River hatcheries and is actively reviewing the ESA compliance of 32 more, including 16 on lower Columbia River tributaries in Washington.
The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund is in line for the biggest payout. The bill calls for $65 million to reach the PCSRF coffers in order to improve wild salmon and steelhead habitats in the Pacific Northwest.
Counting through 2015 the PCSRF had worked on 322 fish enhancement projects in Southwest Washington and restored more than 9,500 miles of stream on the west coast. Those efforts are key to buoying recreational and commercial fishing prospects.
A study from 2011 estimated that in Washington the fishing industry created 5,100 jobs and $247 million in income for Washingtonians, while generating $654 million in sales and bolstering the state’s gross domestic product by $390 million.
The bill is expected to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives in the near future.
