Here are some facts about California hatcheries and impacts due to budget problems....



CALIFORNIA DFG FISH HATCHERY PROGRAM FACT SHEET (Feb. 6, 2004)


Background Information: The CDFG Fish Hatchery Program:


Operates 14 trout and 8 salmon and steelhead hatcheries statewide;


Produces and stocks 5.4 million fingerling, 1.4 million sub-catchable, and 7.4 million catchable-sized trout annually;


Supports approximately 10 million trout fishing days per year in California’s lakes and streams and over $3 billion in economic output;


Produces approximately 34 million Chinook salmon, 0.6 million coho salmon, and 2.7 million juvenile steelhead trout annually;


Supports commercial and sport salmon fisheries in the ocean and rivers, sport steelhead river fisheries, and Native American salmon river fisheries;


Provides for high public visitation and educational opportunities at all sites;


Provides live trout eggs for the California Aquarium Education Program in classrooms;


Generates significant fishing license sales for the DFG through fish stocking programs;


Spends $9.3 million annually on the trout hatchery program, of which 91% comes from sport fishing license sales;


Spends $5.3 million annually on the salmon and steelhead hatchery program, of which 80% comes from mitigation funds from water development agencies; and


Assists in restoration of native California salmon, steelhead and trout species.


Budget Reduction Impacts:


Overall budget cut of $2.6 million, resulting in closure of Mad River Salmon and Steelhead Hatchery, and potential closure of Merced River Salmon Hatchery, Mojave River Trout Hatchery and Hot Creek Trout Hatchery;


Loss of 44 positions, of which 27 are permanent hatchery workers and 17 are hatchery seasonal aides, representing 20% of the workforce;


40% reduction in trout hatchery operating budgets;


Reduction in trout stocking, ranging from 20% to 30% depending on the region, and loss of a major winter steelhead sport fishery in the Mad River within three years;


Cessation of stocking 1,080,000 Chinook salmon yearlings in the Klamath River;


Continued backlog of $15 million in hatchery capital outlay projects;


Unknown loss of revenue due to decreased fishing license sales;


Reduced public visitation and egg availability for classroom education projects; and


Significant negative impacts on local economies that depend on fish stocking.

Hi,

If possible please give some input on the hatchery situation.




James "Brad" Willis
CSEA Bargaining Unit 11 Negotiating Council
Mojave River Hatchery
Victorville,CA
mojavekroc@msn.com or
jwillis@dfg.ca.gov