FISHERIES SERVICE PROPOSES PROTECTION FOR 13 SALMON, STEELHEAD POPULATIONS ON WEST COAST

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to protect under the Federal Endangered Species Act more than a dozen salmon and steelhead populations in Washington, Oregon, and California that are heading towards extinction. A final decision on all these populations will be made next year.

The populations formally proposed today for protection range from sockeye salmon in tiny Ozette Lake in Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula to chinooksalmon in the state's heavily urbanized Puget Sound.

"Our West Coast salmon and steelhead face an uncertain future, but extinction is not an option," said Terry Garcia, assistant secretary of Commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA deputy administrator. "NOAA's highest priority in the next year is to build strong partnerships leading to conservation initiatives that save these salmon runs and foster sustainable
use of these species and their habitats. This is an opportunity for the states to work with us in crafting recovery solutions."

The fisheries service will also be going to local communities to collect people's comments at public hearings.

Additional specific information describing this proposal, including maps and fact sheets, is available on the fisheries service's Northwest Region website at www.nwr.noaa.gov. The Federal Register notice containing this proposal is available at the Government Printing Office's website at www.gpo.gov.

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