Judge halts release of millions of hatchery-raised trout

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From the Associated Press:

SACRAMENTO — A judge has approved an agreement requiring the California Department of Fish and Game to stop adding millions of hatchery-raised trout to many of the state’s mountain rivers and lakes. Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette signed the order Friday.

It codifies a temporary agreement between the state and two environmental groups as part of a 2006 lawsuit over declines in native fish and frogs. Donald Koch, director of the Department of Fish and Game, said the agreement allows the department to continue stocking in a number fishing communities.

‘DFG fought hard in the negotiations to save its fish stocking programs,’ Koch said in a statement. ‘We are pleased that the order allows us to continue stocking in a number of areas where the communities depend on fishing.’

The deal allows stocking in reservoirs larger than 1,000 acres and smaller ones not connected to rivers or streams. It bans stocking where 16 native fish species and nine frog species are found.

The department next week plans to release a list of waters where stocking will end under the agreement. The Pacific Rivers Council and Center for Biological Diversity say limiting the number of trout will preserve native species while the state completes a court-ordered environmental review of its fish-stocking programs.

The judge last year found that stocking by the department had contributed to declines in native fish and frogs. They include the mountain yellow-legged frog, Cascades frog, California golden trout, McCloud River redband trout and Santa Ana sucker.