Washington Exempted From Facing Fish Hatchery Suit, Judge Finds

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife dodged claims that its new summer fish hatchery program will harm protected fish, after a federal judge dismissed the suit.

Wild Fish Conservancy claimed that the program, which was developed to support recreational fishing on the Skykomish River, was implemented before the National Marine Fisheries Service could review the hatchery’s management plan and authorize the harm or killing of protected species.

A number of Western states have been sued for taking actions that fail to protect salmon and steelhead, which are listened as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The department argued that ...