What We Stand For
Abundant Wild, Native Fish
Reviving the Pacific Northwest’s native fish species to natural abundance.
Healthy, Free-Flowing Rivers
Reconnecting, protecting, and restoring the watersheds that sustain us all.
Sustainable, Climate-Resilient Fisheries
Working with decision-makers to ensure fisheries are data driven, grounded in traditional cultural knowledge, and resilient to a changing climate.
Show your wild fish passion - Join the call to action
Until all our Pacific Northwest communities enjoy healthy homewaters with abundant wild fish, we’re asking you to take the pledge and join with local voices, take collective action, and advance science-based solutions to the root challenges facing native fish. Take the Wild Fish For All Pledge today!
Wild Is The Future
We support short-term hatchery programs that serve as life support operations for endangered populations or reintroducing extirpated fish populations, and long-term hatchery programs on lakes and other landlocked waterbodies that lack wild counterparts.
In the long-term, the industrial approach to river and fisheries management that relies on fish hatcheries does not lead to abundant fisheries, nor healthy ecosystems, nor thriving communities.
The best hatchery is a healthy river.
To revive abundant fish and thriving local communities, we need to invest in a model of stewardship that protects and restores healthy, free-flowing rivers and sustainable fisheries management focused on wild fish.
Conservation Campaigns
- Intro
-
The North Umpqua River and its wild fish are invaluable public treasures for our community and our state. For decades, these treasures have been diminished by Winchester Dam, a structure that's sole purpose is to provide recreation for a few private homeowners. Owners of the dam, Winchester Water Control District, have failed to maintain the dam structure for the past 30 years resulting in major infrastructure problems that are a danger to our fish, our water quality, and the safety of our community. In 2023, attempted dam maintenance resulted in the mortality of hundreds of thousands of Pacific Lamprey, water quality violations, and blocked volitional fish passage. But there is hope. Native Fish Society is invested in our mission to restore the North Umpqua River to its former glory, reviving its wild, native fish population and returning it to a free-flowing river, providing unimpeded access to more than 160 miles of cold water habitats for native fish.
North Umpqua River: Winchester Dam Removal
- Intro
-
We're sharing stories of wild, native salmon and trout populations that are flourishing in the absence of hatchery programs: either because a hatchery program never existed or has been removed. If you would like to contribute to this collection, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page.
Celebrating Wild Abundance: Case Studies of Wild Fish Resilience
- Intro
-
The North Umpqua River and its wild fish are invaluable public treasures for our community and our state. Wild fish species, such as summer steelhead, play a critical role in the ecosystem of the North Umpqua River in Oregon. They provide a source of food for other animals, help to maintain water quality, and serve as indicators of the overall health of the ecosystem. By protecting and restoring wild fish populations, we can ensure the continued health and productivity of the North Umpqua River and its ecosystem. However, native fish populations in the North Umpqua River face significant threats due to hatchery fish that are putting their survival at risk. To protect these important species, it is important to reduce the number of hatchery releases, implement sustainable fishing practices, and conserve critical habitats to support healthy populations of wild, native fish in the North Umpqua River.
Reviving Wild Abundance: An All-Wild Steelhead North Umpqua River
Find your homewaters
Guided by the best-available science, Native Fish Society advocates for the recovery of wild, native fish and promotes the stewardship of the habitats that sustain us all.
Get Involved
Join River Stewards Near You
Native Fish Society educates, activates, and inspires a region-wide network of local grassroots advocates dedicated to science-based solutions for their Northwest homewaters and wild, native fish.
“You can make a lasting impact by speaking for your backyard river and its native fish!”
- Grassroots River Stewards taking care of their backyard rivers and native fish.
- 75
- victories safeguarding habitat and restoring fish passage.
- 46
Wild Gear - 100% of every purchase helps revive abundant Pacific Northwest wild fish
MiiR 16oz Travel Tumbler - Summer Steelhead
100% of every purchase helps revive abundant Pacific Northwest wild fish
MiiR 12oz Camp Cup - Pacific Lamprey
100% of every purchase helps revive abundant Pacific Northwest wild fish
MiiR 16oz Camp Cup - Spring Chinook
100% of every purchase helps revive abundant Pacific Northwest wild fish
Equity & Inclusion
The Native Fish Society is dedicated to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive groundswell of public support for reviving abundant wild fish, free-flowing rivers, and thriving communities.
Learn More$10 per month helps steward your homewaters.
You're Invited to our BIG Homewaters: Run Wild Benefit Banquet and Auction on April 13th!
Join Us for a Guaranteed Good Time for a Great Cause! We are excited to welcome you on Saturday, April 13th, 2024 for THE BIGGEST PARTY FOR WILD FISH IN THE UNIVERSE! When: Saturday, April 13th, 2024 | 5pm - 9pm | Where: The Loft at 8th Avenue - Portland, OR | What: A banquet and auction supporting the revival of wild, native fish, free-flowing rivers, and thriving local communities.