Three individuals were honored for their dedication to saving Wild Salmon at the 5^th annual Wild Salmon Hall of Fame awards. They are: Bill Bradbury, Oregon's Secretary of State; Jim Kramer, Executive Director of Shared Strategy for Puget Sound; and Jim Lichatowich, author of the book Salmon without Rivers: A History of the Pacific Salmon Crisis.

 

Mr. Bradbury has actively supported salmon for decades. In 1981, just elected an Oregon State Representative, Bill introduced and passed the Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program. In 1993, as Senate President, Bill was shepherd of a bill creating watershed councils in Oregon, and saw to it that $10 million was appropriated to get them started. In 1995, Bill became Executive Director of For the Sake of the Salmon, a watershed-based salmon recovery effort.

Jim Kramer has been working to protect and restore the environment of the region since he first fell in love with the Sound as an Evergreen College student in 1975. Jim is a practitioner in the art of democracy, moving people and organizations to action and results. He was a key architect in designing and facilitating Salmon Recovery Funding Board decisions for salmon projects. In 2002, Jim created the nonprofit organization, Shared Strategy for Puget Sound.




 
 

Jim Lichatowich has worked on Pacific salmon issues as a researcher, manager, and scientific advisor for 37 years. He specializes in the history of salmon management and the life history and status of salmon and steelhead populations and the development of restoration plans in the Pacific Northwest. Jim was formerly the Chief of Fisheries Research and Assistant Chief of Fisheries for the State of Oregon.

Two other finalists were honored at the event. 

Dr. Peter Bergman is the co-inventor of the Coded Wire Tag, widely used today to track salmon. He worked for Washington's Department of Fisheries and served as the Executive Director of the Salmon and Steelhead Advisory Commission, and is now at Northwest Marine Technology.

Anne Mosness, a conservationist, commercial fisherwoman, and grass roots activist. Anne developed the "Go Wild Campaign" to educate journalists, public and elected officials about sustainable fisheries.

Selection criteria used for the award are include a demonstrated passion for Wild Salmon; enhancing public knowledge; creating a tangible outcome such; and fostering a positive influence in their profession or the community.

"We are all here to honor some of the most esteemed members of the Salmon Community," Master of Ceremonies and Salmon Center Board President Fred Barrett told the crowd of 220 attendees. "Whatever our perspectives, we all share the commonality of our dependence on Wild Salmon and the ecosystem they inhabit."

 

David Dicks, the new Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership, and keynote speaker for the event, spoke about the goals of his new organization. "We are going to build upon the incredible efforts of the people in this room tonight, and take things to the next level."

In a related effort, the Salmon Center hosted a Wild Salmon Summit this year, bringing together previous Wild Salmon Hall of Fame winners in a two day meeting to focus on ways to engage the public in the importance of Wild Salmon and healthy ecosystems for future generations.

The event was sponsored by Kitsap Bank, and included donations from Fish Tale Brewery, the Suquamish Tribe, and McGavick Winery.