Small Town News

Salmon Enhancement Group enters MOU with Navy

---

The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division in Keyport entered into a memorandum of understanding to share scientific data and technology.

The nine-year agreement outlines various ways in which HCSEG and the Navy can work together to exchange data while protecting natural resources and national security. This includes sharing non-classified data, supporting the development and use of technology, exploring the Hood Canal watershed, increasing cooperation with private parties and preparing other cooperative projects.

"This agreement paves the way for increased collaboration between HCSEG and the Navy in caring for Hood Canal's natural resources and ecosystem," said HCSEG executive director Mendy Harlow in a news release. "By sharing information, technology and resources, we can jointly strengthen our commitment to learning about and caring for Hood Canal."

Harlow and Capt. Doug LaCoste, commanding officer at the Keyport Navy division, signed the agreement.

The agreement notes that the Navy has conducted tests on its undersea ranges in Hood Canal since the early 1900s.

As a result of the agreement, HCSEG will benefit from the Navy's oceanographic expertise, technology and data.

In turn, the Navy will benefit from additional oceanographic data, engineering evaluation and developed device applications to better prepare for future test and evaluation needs.

The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is one of 14 Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups created by state Legislature in 1990.

The fishery groups were created as active partners to assist the state in salmon recovery efforts, supported by community volunteers. For more information, visit www.pnwsalmoncenter.org.



Copyright 2016 Shelton-Mason County Journal, Shelton, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

More from Shelton-Mason County Journal