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.