Date and time: Thursday, July 25, 2024
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov
WASHINGTON – The Departments of the Interior and Commerce today announced a $240 million investment from President Biden’s Investment in America Plan to support farms producing Pacific salmon and steelhead, empowering tribal nations. , emphasized the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to living up to the trust of the federal government. and treaty responsibilities. Fish hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest not only fulfill treaty-reserved fishing rights, but also support important livelihoods, rituals, and economic interests of tribal communities. The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will partner with the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide this funding to local tribes.
Today’s investment builds on the Biden-Harris administration’s unprecedented agreement to restore salmon in the Columbia River Basin, and provides historic, continuing, and cumulative funding for federal Columbia River dams to Columbia River Basin tribes. It follows a recently published report by the Home Office documenting the impact. These investments also further the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic progress in strengthening tribal sovereignty and self-determination, and are in line with Executive Order 14112, which President Biden signed at the 2023 White House Tribal Nation Summit. , which requires federal agencies to take steps to secure federal funding. for Tribes is accessible, flexible, and fair. By enforcing these awards through Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act contracts and agreements, the Department relieves significant administrative burdens from awardee tribes. NOAA plans to continue to build on this partnership with BIA for job opportunities that address the needs of tribes across the country.
“Since time immemorial, tribes in the Pacific Northwest have relied on Pacific salmon, steelhead and other native fish species for food and their cultural and spiritual way of life,” Secretary Deb Haaland said. Ta. “This funding will help realize historic investments from the President’s Invest in America policy that empower indigenous communities and protect the resources indigenous peoples have controlled since time immemorial.”
“Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Invest in America policy and commitment to ensuring fair access to federal funds for tribes, this cross-agency partnership will provide tribal communities with access to essential resources essential to their lives.” “We will ensure we have the resources we need to sustain Pacific salmon and steelhead fisheries and economic development,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “There is still much work to do, and we look forward to working with all tribes and advocates in Congress to identify future opportunities to support salmon hatcheries.”
Tribal fish hatchery production in the Pacific Northwest benefits not only subsistence fishermen, but both local and global markets, including commercial, subsistence, recreational fishing, tourism, and industries from California to Alaska. It supports a wide range of ecosystems. Tribal hatcheries produce millions of fish each year, supporting tribal employment and livelihoods, nourishing tribal families, and contributing to the preservation of cultural traditions and recreation. As habitats are restored and reconnected to better support wild fish production, hatcheries will benefit tribal and non-tribal fisheries in the Pacific Northwest, as well as other animals and animals that rely on salmon. It will continue to be an important tool for replenishing the ecosystem with fish.
As part of today’s announcement, an initial $54 million will be awarded to 27 tribes in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska to address current hatchery facility maintenance and modernization needs and support tribal production capacity needs. is provided. The remaining funds will be made available competitively to help tribes address the long-term viability and effectiveness of critical infrastructure for Pacific salmon and steelhead breeding.
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