Rep. Gosar Grills Fish and Wildlife Service Over Hatchery Closures

Statement

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Subcommittee held a legislative hearing on his legislation H.R. 5026, the Fish Hatchery Protection Act:

"The Deputy Director for the Fish and Wildlife Service looked like a fish out of water when trying to explain why the Service did not have a public comment period and did not consider job losses or associated economic impact before terminating important recreational fishing programs throughout the country.

"We heard testimony today from Chairman Angius that nearly 1,700 jobs in Mohave County and nearly $75 million in economic output associated with the Willow Beach Hatchery are at risk as a result of the recent termination of the hatchery's rainbow trout stocking program.

"The Fish and Wildlife Service is attempting to unilaterally turn our National Fish Hatchery System into an endangered species recovery program. This is extremely misguided as several of the hatcheries affected were constructed more than 50 years ago for the sole purpose of offsetting the loss of native fisheries resulting from the construction of federal dams, including Willow Beach.

"While most answers from the Fish and Wildlife Service today defied commonsense, I was pleased to hear the Deputy Director's answer to my question about the future of the rainbow trout stocking program at the Willow Beach Hatchery in which he stated 'I believes we would, yes' reinstate the rainbow trout stocking program following the repair of a broken water supply line."

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