On the Salmon River Fish Hatchery

As someone born and raised in Pulaski, I know how vital fishing is to our local economy. One of the hidden gems of the area is the Salmon River fish hatchery, whose goals are “to restore native species to waters they formerly occupied and to enhance recreational fishing (NYSDEC).” Seen as there is a world record held by a fish caught in the Salmon River, it is not a large stretch to argue that this fish hatchery is less focused on conservation and more focused on the financial gain that the fish provide to humans and businesses. In Oswego county, the overall fishing industry has an estimated economic value of 42 million dollars (Barclay, oswegocountytoday)

How do fish hatcheries support conservation efforts? Most simply raise species that are deemed to be threatened or endangered. The Salmon River fish hatchery mostly raises Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and brown trout (NYSDEC). Of these, 3 are considered to be threatened or endangered, while the brown trout are listed as “of least concern” (NOAA). The brown trout account for 31% of the fish stocked each year. So then, what other reason are they raised if not to boost the fishing industry?

I am by no means saying that these processes don’t help in conservation efforts, but that the ultimate motive is to sustain the environment in the name of financial gain. On the primary website of the fish hatchery, there is only one sentence of anything related to conservation efforts, but two that mention the economic impact. When reading on the Salmon River corridor, it is clear that there are conservation efforts being taken up by the DEC, it still feels financially motivated.

“Priority issues in the watershed include the continued protection and sustainable management of its excellent fisheries and extensive forests; ongoing commitment to a viable tourism and recreation industry; management and protection of the substantial wetland systems in the watershed, some of which support rare species; protection of the abundant, clean freshwater resources; maintenance of the rural character and open spaces in the watershed; and maintaining the ability of the watershed's resources to adapt and recover in the face of large-scale threats such as global climate change, invasive species, and atmospheric deposition of acid, nitrogen and mercury. (dec.ny.gov)”

The words management and industry imply that there are intentions focused solely on the money the watershed brings to the area. But at the end of the day, it is difficult to pose sustainability projects in the United States that have no inherent economic benefits.

The pristine and rural nature of Pulaski and the Salmon River are some of the reasons I am proud to call it my home. Even if the purposes of conserving the “wilderness” of the area are rooted in industry, at least we do have conservation efforts, compared to other regions of the state and country. At the end of the day, fishing is a key component in the past, present, and future of Pulaski, and we will continue to protect the resources to ensure that the industry stays strong.

https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/hatcheries/salmon-river
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/new-york-state-salmon-river-fish-hatchery
https://www.fws.gov/story/national-fish-hatchery-system-supports-aquatic-conservation
https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/watersheds/lake-ontario-minor-tributaries/salmon-river-corridor
https://oswegocountytoday.com/politics/barclay-opinion/sport-fishing-industry-contributes-millions-to-local-economy/