This volume is the proceedings of that workshop. Although the impetus for the workshop was concern for the listed Snake River populations of chinook salmon, the straying issue is more generally applicable to a wide range of hatchery programs for all species of anadromous Pacific salmonids throughout the region. Therefore, the panel was asked not to limit their evaluations to any species or geographic region. The panel was also not expected to make management decisions or to formulate policy for NMFS or anyone else. In evaluating this basic issue, the panelists were also asked to consider a variety of related questions.
Some examples follow.
The workshop did not attempt to address several related issues. Empirical evidence makes it clear that some hatchery fish stray, and others do not. Rather, the panelists focused on evaluating the consequences of straying in those cases in which it does occur. Finally, the panel did not attempt to evaluate the effects of supplementation programs that use local broodstock. These and other hatchery issues are important but were judged to be too complex to be dealt with in a single workshop.