Steelhead

News & Announcements

Statement from Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler on Federal 12-Month Endangered Species Act Finding for Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

Today, federal government issued its 12-month finding on the petition to list Olympic Peninsula steelhead under the Endangered Species Act. NOAA determined that Olympic Peninsula steelhead qualify as a distinct population segment under the ESA and acknowledged long-term population declines, reduced productivity, and substantial uncertainty, but concluded that listing is not warranted at this time.

January 13, 2026 No Comments

News & Announcements

Federal Court Extends Deadline for Endangered Species Act Decision on Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

Contacts: Emma Helverson, Wild Fish Conservancy, 484- 788-1174, emma@wildfishconservancy.orgJohn McMillan, The Conservation Angler, 360-797-3215, john.mcmillan@theconservationangler.orgBrian Knutsen, Kampmeier & Knutsen PLLC, 503-841-6515, brian@kampmeierknutsen.com For Immediate Release

December 11, 2025 No Comments

Press Releases

Environmental Advocates Sue Again to Protect Wild Salmon, Steelhead, and Orcas from Harmful Columbia River Hatcheries, as Feds Concede New Management Plan is Inadequate

After years of warnings and repeated Endangered Species Act violations, Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler have filed a new federal lawsuit challenging NOAA Fisheries for once again failing to protect these species from ongoing harm caused by Columbia River hatcheries.

December 1, 2025 No Comments

News & Announcements

Partnership and Science-Based Planning Lead to Action in Springbrook Creek

When strong partnerships and sound science come together, the path to healthier watersheds becomes possible.

November 21, 2025 No Comments

News & Announcements

Snorkeling for Steelhead: How Immersive Fieldwork Shapes Wild Fish Conservation

After conducting snorkel surveys for more than 25 years, Wild Fish Conservancy has learned a lot about steelhead populations’ status, trends, and the number of hatchery fish that stray into wild rivers.

October 30, 2025 No Comments

News & Announcements

How a Petition to Protect Native Resident Trout from Harvest May Actually Lead to Increased Harvest Opportunities on Vulnerable Populations

Here’s how Wild Fish Conservancy is working to ensure the Washington Fish & Wildlife Department’s Resident Native Trout Harvest Management Policy doesn’t harm imperiled native resident trout.

September 16, 2025 No Comments

Press Releases

Media Statement on Intervention in Northwest Aquaculture Alliance v. Washington State Department of Natural Resources

In August 2017, a devastating net pen aquaculture collapse at a facility maintained by Cooke Aquaculture in Puget Sound released an estimated 260,000 non-native and

July 25, 2025 No Comments

Press Releases

Legal Settlement Reached for Endangered Species Act Decision Deadline for Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler reached a settlement agreement with NOAA Fisheries establishing a deadline requiring the agency to issue its long-overdue finding on whether Olympic Peninsula steelhead warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.

July 16, 2025 No Comments

News & Announcements

We’re Taking Action to Ensure Wild Fish Receive the Protection They Deserve

Through two significant legal actions, we are holding the federal government accountable for its responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)— one of the most effective tools we have to prevent extinction, but it only works when it’s enforced..

February 13, 2025 No Comments

Press Releases

Lawsuit Filed Over Delay of Federal Protections for Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

The Conservation Angler and Wild Fish Conservancy filed suit against NOAA Fisheries for delaying Endangered Species Act protections for Olympic Peninsula steelhead.

January 23, 2025 No Comments

Press Releases

Lawsuit Launched to Protect Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

The Conservation Angler and Wild Fish Conservancy recently notified the National Marine Fisheries Services of their intent to sue NMFS for failing to protect Olympic Peninsula steelhead under the federal Endangered Species Act.

November 8, 2024 No Comments

News & Announcements

Time to stand up for Olympic Peninsula wild steelhead

Wild Steelhead, Washington’s State Fish, collapsing on the Olympic Peninsula. On August 1, 2022, The Conservation Angler and Wild Fish Conservancy delivered a petition to

August 1, 2022 No Comments

Press Releases

Wild Fish Conservancy Files Legal Suit against Washington Fish and Wildlife for Killing Federally Protected Wild Steelhead

WFC’s lawsuit charging WDFW for capturing, holding captive, and killing protected wild summer steelhead without the federal review and approval required for all hatchery programs that affect threatened and endangered species.

February 12, 2021 No Comments

Press Releases

Cooke Aquaculture Faces New Lawsuit Over Puget Sound Net Pens Harm to Threatened and Endangered Orcas, Chinook, Steelhead, and Other Protected Wild Fish

We’re holding Cooke Aquaculture responsible for Endangered Species Act violations resulting from their net pen operations.

February 10, 2021 No Comments

Press Releases

Wild Fish Conservancy Provides Legal Notice to Washington Fish and Wildlife for Killing Federally Protected Wild Steelhead

Today, WFC provided notice of our intent to file suit for violations of the Endangered Species Act resulting from WA’s unpermitted operation of a new summer steelhead hatchery program in the Skykomish River.

December 2, 2020 No Comments

Press Releases

To protect wild steelhead, salmon, orcas, environmental groups appeal approval of Puget Sound commercial net pen aquaculture to Washington’s Supreme Court

WFC and our partners are appealing our challenge of Washington’s steelhead net pen authorization to Washington’s Supreme Court.

November 25, 2020 No Comments

News & Announcements

Wild Fish Conservancy provides 60-day notice of intent to file suit against WDFW for violations of the Endangered Species Act Resulting from Skamania Hatchery Steelhead Programs

Wild Fish Conservancy sends notice of intent to sue WA Fish and Wildlife over the illegal operation of the Skamania summer-steelhead hatchery operation that is harming the recovery of threatened Puget Sound steelhead.

February 12, 2019 No Comments

Wild Fish Conservancy

Wild Fish Conservation Organizations Intend to Sue Idaho for Unauthorized Steelhead Fishing

The Conservation Angler, Wild Fish Conservancy, Snake River Waterkeeper, Friends of the Clearwater, and Idaho Rivers United yesterday sent notice of their intent to sue officials of the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (“IDFG”) and Idaho Fish & Game Commission (“Commission”) under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) for allowing sport fisheries that harm and prevent the recovery of wild Snake River Basin steelhead, including the iconic but critically low wild B-run steelhead.

October 17, 2018 No Comments

Lawsuit Settlement Big Advance For Wild Steelhead Recovery

Wild Fish Conservancy and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have settled the lawsuit filed by the Conservancy March 31, 2014 seeking Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance for WDFW’s “Chambers Creek” hatchery winter steelhead programs.

April 25, 2014 No Comments

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