Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
The Departments of the Interior and Commerce announced a $240 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support fish hatcheries producing Pacific salmon and steelhead. This move emphasizes the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to empowering Tribal Nations and fulfilling federal trust and treaty responsibilities. Fish hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest play a vital role in providing subsistence, ceremonial, and economic benefits for Tribal communities, as well as upholding Treaty-reserved fishing rights. The Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will collaborate with the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to allocate this funding to regional Tribes.
This investment follows an unprecedented agreement by the Biden-Harris administration to restore salmon in the Columbia River Basin. It also aligns with Executive Order 14112, signed by President Biden at the 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit, which mandates federal agencies to ensure that federal funding for Tribes is accessible, flexible, and equitable. By utilizing Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act contracts and compacts, the administrative burden on awardee Tribes will be reduced. NOAA plans to continue partnering with BIA for future projects addressing Tribal needs across the United States.
“Since time immemorial, Tribes in the Pacific Northwest have relied on Pacific salmon, steelhead, and other native fish species for sustenance and their cultural and spiritual ways of life,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “This funding will help us deliver historic investments from the President’s Investing in America agenda that will empower Indigenous communities and safeguard resources they have stewarded since time immemorial.”
“Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda and commitment to guaranteeing equitable access to federal funding for Tribes, this cross-agency partnership will ensure Tribal communities have the resources they need to sustain Pacific Salmon and Steelhead fisheries that are essential to their economic development,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “There’s also more to be done, and I look forward to working with all Tribes and Congressional champions to find future opportunities to support salmon hatcheries.”
Tribal fish hatchery production in the Pacific Northwest supports commercial, subsistence, recreational fishing, tourism, and broader ecosystems from California to Alaska. Millions of fish produced annually in these hatcheries drive Tribal employment, provide nutrition for families, preserve cultural traditions, and offer recreational opportunities. As habitats are restored or reconnected for natural fish production support, hatcheries remain crucial for supplementing fish populations for both Tribal and non-Tribal fisheries.
An initial $54 million is available immediately for 27 Tribes in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska to address current maintenance needs at hatchery facilities. The remaining funds will be competitively distributed to enhance long-term infrastructure viability for propagating Pacific salmon and steelhead.
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