The Hatchery Scientific Review Group (HSRG) is the independent scientific panel established and initially funded by U.S. Congress to provide an autonomous and credible evaluation of hatchery reform as part of the Hatchery Reform Project. The objective of the HSRG is to assemble, organize, and apply the best available scientific information and to provide guidance to the policymakers and technical staff who are implementing hatchery reform.

The HSRG is composed of independent scientists, some of whom are affiliated with management agencies in the region, others are not. All members, including the agency affiliated scientists, are responsible for evaluating scientific merits and are not to represent agency policies. The scientists serving on the HSRG have a broad range of experience. Their scientific disciplines include biology, genetics, ecology, fisheries, fish culture, fish pathology, biometrics, and other disciplines.

The Hatchery Scientific Review Group (HSRG) was established by Congress in FY 2000 to ensure that hatchery reform programs in regions of the Northwest would be scientifically founded and evaluated; that independent scientists interact with agency and tribal scientists to provide direction and operational guidelines; and that the system as a whole be evaluated for compliance with scientific recommendations. To date the HSRG has reviewed programs in Puget Sound and Coastal Washington and are initiating reviews in the Columbia Basin.  The goal of hatchery reform is to ensure that hatchery programs are managed and operated in order to meet one or both of the purposes for hatcheries: 1) helping recover and conserve naturally spawning populations and 2) supporting sustainable fisheries. The objective of the Scientific Group is to assemble, organize and apply the best available scientific information to provide guidance to policy makers who are implementing hatchery reform.
  

Key elements of the management plan being implemented are establishment of the "Managing for Success" data base (MFS) and a set of tools for information management, decision-making, analysis, and monitoring. It is designed to accommodate an "all H" (habitat, hatchery, harvest, and hydroelectric) approach.

The project is evaluating all fish hatcheries within the U.S. portion of the Columbia River Basin. These programs are managed by Federal agencies, state agencies, Tribal agencies, and private entities.

Hatchery reform fundamentally requires evaluating hatcheries based on how they affect the watershed in which they are located. This means a hatchery program - whether for harvest or conservation purposes - cannot be successful unless it serves the needs of the wild fish populations it is derived from and/or encounters outside the hatchery. The size of the hatchery program (i.e., number of fish released) must be considered in light of what the available habitat can sustain, and the habitat needs of other fish in the watershed.

The HSRG determined that management decisions about hatchery programs must be made in the context of the particular circumstances in a given watershed. This approach requires an understanding of the current and expected future goals for all natural and hatchery stocks in an ecosystem - along with the habitat on which they depend - as well as harvest and conservation goals. Only within this context can it be determined if a hatchery program is an appropriate tool for helping to reach harvest and conservation goals for a given population and, if so, what size and type of program is appropriate.

This methodical application of science is the foundation upon which the HSRG is conducting its hatchery reviews and make recommendations on reform actions. The HSRG calls for management based on clear goals, scientifically defensible programs and informed decisions-making. To accomplish this, the HSRG divided the Columbia Basin into 13 regions. These include:

   - Lower Columbia, Washington - Cowlitz/ Washougal (Reviewed under PSMFC)
   - Lower Columbia, Washington - Kalama/ Lewis (Reviewed under PSMFC)
   - Columbia Estuary, Washington (Reviewed under PSMFC)
   - Lower Columbia, Oregon (Reviewed under PSMFC)
   - Columbia Estuary, Oregon (Reviewed under PSMFC)
   - Columbia Gorge, Oregon (Reviewed under PSMFC)
   - Columbia Gorge, Washington (Reviewed under PSMFC)
   - Willamette, Oregon (Reviewed under PSMFC)
   - Columbia Plateau, Oregon (Reviewed under PSMFC)
   - Columbia Plateau, Washington (Reviewed under PSMFC)
   - Columbia Cascade, Washington
   - Mountain Snake - Clearwater & Salmon
   - Blue Mountain

Each region the HSRG has reviewed to date included a tour of the facilities and programs, consideration of population and habitat information provided by the managers, and consideration of the benefits and risks to all populations that result from each hatchery program. They meet with the managers to discuss the findings, and then produce specific recommendations for reducing the risks and maximizing benefits from each program. The first review was held in July 2006. To date through NOAA funding the HSRG has completed reviews through the mid Columbia.

The HSRG is will finish the Columbia Cascade, Mountain Snake and Blue Mountain. Cumulative Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU) roll-up reviews will be completed regionally and for the full Columbia Basin.