In Oregon, approximately 200 programs are active along the rivers, nurturing young salmon in a controlled environment before releasing them into the wild. However, a recent incident at the Winchester Bay Salmon Trout Enhancement Program (Step) caused a stir. A man, identified as 20-year-old Joshua Alexander Heckathorn from Gardiner, Oregon, broke into the facility and poured bleach into a Chinook salmon tank, resulting in the tragic death of around 18,000 fish.
Heckathorn was apprehended by authorities on April 23, the day after the incident, and admitted to the act. He explained that he had obtained a bottle of bleach from a storage area the day before. According to a Facebook post by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Heckathorn was arrested and charged with second-degree burglary, criminal trespass, and criminal mischief.
The potential penalty for poaching one Chinook salmon, a protected species under the Endangered Species Act, is $750 per fish. Considering the number of fish killed, Heckathorn could face fines totaling nearly $14 million. This incident is a significant setback for the Step program, a non-profit volunteer group dedicated to conserving Chinook Salmon.
Following the incident, volunteers drained the pond and removed the deceased fish, which were later frozen and taken as evidence by the Oregon State Police. The hatchery expressed deep dismay over the incident, highlighting the impact on the local economy and the environment. The young fish, if left unharmed, would have grown into 200–400 fully grown salmon, providing a valuable resource for fishermen.
Chinook salmon, Oregon’s state fish, spend one to five years in the ocean before returning to their home rivers to spawn and die. They are crucial to the ecosystem and are a vital food source for resident killer whales. However, their population has dwindled due to various factors, including human development.
This incident isn't the first threat to Oregon's hatchery fish. In the past, outbreaks of diseases and environmental changes have also posed challenges. Despite these setbacks, the hatchery remains committed to its conservation efforts, with plans to release 60,000 nearly year-old fish into the ocean in the coming months.