CTUIR gets $2 million for fisheries
By Terry Murry on Friday, July 26th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories More Top Stories
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are delivering funding to Columbia River tribes to support hatcheries that produce Pacific salmon and steelhead. The funding is part of a commitment by the federal government to fulfill its trust and treaty responsibilities.
The initial round of funding, which will eventually total $240 million, is $54 million. Each of the 27 tribes will receive $2 million to start the funding. The initial round of funding is earmarked for current hatchery facility maintenance and modernization necessities and Tribal facility needs. The remaining funding will be made available competitively to help Tribes address the long-term viability and effectiveness of critical infrastructure for the propagation of Pacific salmon and steelhead.
A prepared statement said the funding is part of an agreement from the 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit that requires federal agencies to take action to ensure that federal funding for Tribes is accessible, flexible, and equitable.
“Since time immemorial, Tribes in the Pacific Northwest have relied on Pacific salmon, steelhead, and other native fish species for sustenance and their cultural and spiritual ways of life,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland stated in the release.
