5. Risk Assessment of a Proposed Introduction of Pacific Salmon
63
permitted by law” and subject to the availability of funds to (1) identify actions
that may affect invasive alien species; (2) prevent the introduction of alien species
and control them in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner; and
(3) not authorize, fund, or implement actions that are likely to facilitate the
introduction or spread of invasive species unless the agency involved has publicly
determined that the benefits of such actions clearly outweigh the potential harm.
An Invasive Species Council was also established to implement the executive
order. The council comprises the Departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as other invited federal agencies.
These and other state, regional, federal, and international agreements reflect a
growing awareness of the potential hazard that non-native fish pose to aquatic
ecosystems. Policies and attitudes are in a state of transition. During the early
1980s, in the midst of an evolving sociopolitical climate, the New Jersey Division
of Fish, Game, and Wildlife (NJDFGW) initiated a program to introduce Pacific
Salmon into the Delaware River watershed. At an earlier time, such a proposal
might have received little or no opposition; however, because of its timing, New
Jersey’s proposal was destined to receive intense scrutiny by a large body of
stakeholders. Interestingly, neighboring states with their own hatchery-supported
Pacific Salmon fisheries opposed New Jersey’s proposal; some angling groups
opposed the introduction out of concern for their preferred quarry—another introduced Pacific salmonid that had become naturalized within the upper reaches of
the Delaware River watershed.
Introduction of Pacific Salmon to the Delaware River Basin
In an effort to create additional sport fishing opportunities and to attract economic
benefits to the region, the NJDFGW proposed an introduction of Pacific Salmon
to the Delaware River. New Jersey applied for federal funding for the program,
and the USFWS determined that the project could have significant impacts on
environmental, cultural, or human resources. Thus, according to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), completion of an environmental
impact statement (EIS) for the proposed program was necessary and appropriate.
In response to concerns about the potential ecological and socioeconomic impacts
of a large-scale introduction, NJDFGW proposed a small-scale, short-term experimental program to assess the feasibility and advisability of a larger-scale introduction. The proposed action consisted of a stocking of 300,000 Chinook Salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in each of five consecutive years. Fish were to be
reared on site at the Charles O. Hayford Fish Hatchery at Hackettstown and
released into the adjacent Musconetcong River, a tributary of the Delaware River.
Alternative proposals included stocking of 50,000 Steelhead Trout (O. mykiss)
and 50,000 Coho Salmon. Reintroduction of the native Atlantic Salmon (Salmo
salar) received little attention as an alternative, because the Delaware River
historically was on the very edge of the Atlantic Salmon range and habitat condi-
63
permitted by law” and subject to the availability of funds to (1) identify actions
that may affect invasive alien species; (2) prevent the introduction of alien species
and control them in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner; and
(3) not authorize, fund, or implement actions that are likely to facilitate the
introduction or spread of invasive species unless the agency involved has publicly
determined that the benefits of such actions clearly outweigh the potential harm.
An Invasive Species Council was also established to implement the executive
order. The council comprises the Departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as other invited federal agencies.
These and other state, regional, federal, and international agreements reflect a
growing awareness of the potential hazard that non-native fish pose to aquatic
ecosystems. Policies and attitudes are in a state of transition. During the early
1980s, in the midst of an evolving sociopolitical climate, the New Jersey Division
of Fish, Game, and Wildlife (NJDFGW) initiated a program to introduce Pacific
Salmon into the Delaware River watershed. At an earlier time, such a proposal
might have received little or no opposition; however, because of its timing, New
Jersey’s proposal was destined to receive intense scrutiny by a large body of
stakeholders. Interestingly, neighboring states with their own hatchery-supported
Pacific Salmon fisheries opposed New Jersey’s proposal; some angling groups
opposed the introduction out of concern for their preferred quarry—another introduced Pacific salmonid that had become naturalized within the upper reaches of
the Delaware River watershed.
Introduction of Pacific Salmon to the Delaware River Basin
In an effort to create additional sport fishing opportunities and to attract economic
benefits to the region, the NJDFGW proposed an introduction of Pacific Salmon
to the Delaware River. New Jersey applied for federal funding for the program,
and the USFWS determined that the project could have significant impacts on
environmental, cultural, or human resources. Thus, according to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), completion of an environmental
impact statement (EIS) for the proposed program was necessary and appropriate.
In response to concerns about the potential ecological and socioeconomic impacts
of a large-scale introduction, NJDFGW proposed a small-scale, short-term experimental program to assess the feasibility and advisability of a larger-scale introduction. The proposed action consisted of a stocking of 300,000 Chinook Salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in each of five consecutive years. Fish were to be
reared on site at the Charles O. Hayford Fish Hatchery at Hackettstown and
released into the adjacent Musconetcong River, a tributary of the Delaware River.
Alternative proposals included stocking of 50,000 Steelhead Trout (O. mykiss)
and 50,000 Coho Salmon. Reintroduction of the native Atlantic Salmon (Salmo
salar) received little attention as an alternative, because the Delaware River
historically was on the very edge of the Atlantic Salmon range and habitat condi-