This program ran from 1982 - 2012, and the City of Oak Harbor Marina released nearly one million salmon into Oak Harbor Bay. Unfortunately, the program stopped in 2013 due to Washington State budget constraints.
The program restarted in 2022 after the City staff spent two and a half years working with Washington State to restart the program. Volunteers built pens and worked to collect donations to offset program startup costs.
Program Details
- The City receives 30,000 baby salmon. 15,000 in each pen
- Volunteers and staff care for the salmon for several months until early May, when they are released into the Oak Harbor Bay
- Staff anticipates that 10% of the salmon released will return in three years
Program Goals
To provide an outdoor classroom for students to learn about salmon, revive fishing in the Oak Harbor area, and assist with Governor Inslee's Salmon Task Force recommendations.