Kucinich Denounces Bush Decision to Count Hatchery Salmon as Wild Under the ESA
For Immediate Release: April 30, 2004 Portland, Oregon – Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich today denounced a Bush administration decision to count hatchery-raised salmon as wild when considering whether a salmon stock should be listed as endangered under the Endangered
Species Act. "This decision flies in the face of science and scientific evidence and undercuts the clear intent of the Endangered Species Act. Salmon throughout the Northwest are clearly endangered. If this decision is implemented as written, it could drive wild salmon stocks into extinction."
Fish hatcheries release hundreds of millions of salmon into Northwest streams and rivers each year. According to scientific data, these fish are typically larger than wild salmon and compete with them for food. Because they are released in high numbers, their local abundance may mask habitat degradation from logging, dams, and urban sprawl.
"This decision is yet another instance of the Bush Administration saying one thing and doing another. Claiming that the presence of artificially-created hatchery fish in the natural environment proves the viability of our bruised streams and rivers is akin to telling us that the concrete pools in which they've been raised are "natural" habitats. Surely even the youngest child in grade-school knows this isn't true."
Salmon have long been the focus of embittered battles because of the dams, electric-generating facilities, clearcuts and irrigation projects that threaten their existence. Counting hatchery salmon as wild in order to remove salmon stocks from the endangered list, says Kucinich, "permits an end-run around the clear intent of Congress to protect and preserve the vitality of our enormously valuable, and enormously threatened, natural resources. It is critically important that administration officials not use this policy change to ease restrictions on land-use regulations designed to protect our watersheds, forests, rivers and streams.
"The ESA protects all of us: not just salmon," continued Kucinich. "Everyone benefits from a healthy ecosystem. Undercutting the ESA is yet another example of the ways in which the Bush Administration subverts sound public policy to benefit private interests. By declaring "healthy" with the stroke of a legislative pen ecosystems long judged to be endangered, the administration permits undoing the work of generations of scientists to restore natural habitat to vitality and health.
"We must not confound 'science' with 'policy,' Kucinich concluded. "Ignoring the clear distinctions between wild and hatchery salmon could lead to the extinction of one of the greatest natural resources in the Pacific Northwest. I call upon the Bush Administration to follow its own rules and to continue doing everything possible to protect water quality for wild salmon, and to not count as 'wild' salmon reared in hatcheries. To do otherwise would be to set back salmon recovery efforts by at least 100 years."
Kucinich is campaigning extensively in Oregon. His schedule this weekend takes him to Portland and Ashland.
For information about the National campaign:
http://www.kucinich.us For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule:
http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htmTo schedule an interview with Kucinich or spokesperson:
interviews@kucinich.us
Oregon Contact: Barry Marks: (503) 292-3253,
mediateam@kucinich-oregon.us
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