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to be unintentionally introduced while species knowingly brought in constitute an intentional introduction. The Task Force's proposed ANS Program defines intentional introductions as: "The import or introduction of nonindigenous species into, or transport through, an area or ecosystem where it is not established in open waters for a specific purpose such as fishery management. Even when the purpose of such import or transport is not direct introduction into an open ecosystem (e.g., for aquaculture or display in an aquarium), even- tual introduction into open waters as the result of escapement, accidental release, improper dis- posal (e.g., "aquarium dumping"), or similar releases are the inevitable consequence of the original import or transport, not an unintentional introduction." Though the inevitability of escapes may be improved upon, the important concept presented in this definition is its consistency with the Program's definition of ecosystems: "...nat- ural or wild environments as well as human envi- ronments, including infrastructure elements." This would therefore include any holding facility as part of the larger ecosystem, with any later accidental release considered a consequence of the initial introduction. The language of Section 1207 and the discus- sions during Congressional hearings also clearly signaled Congress's intent that the risks of escapes from public and private facilities be included in the policy review rather than moving immediately to regulatory actions as was autho- rized for unintentional introductions. Finally, with regard to use of the term "intentional intro- ductions," it should be clarified that the Task Force in no way suggests that such escapes or releases into open aquatic ecosystems are or gen- erally have been made "intentionally" in the nar- rower sense of the word. Another term that needs clarification is "species." Although the Act does not define this term, the definition of "nonindigenous species" is broader than full species. It includes "species or other viable biological material." Similarly the policy review language in the Act refers to "aquatic organisms" rather than species. The species con- cept presented in the Task Force's proposed ANS Program is also adopted here: `A group of organ- isms all of which have a high degree of physical and genetic similarity, can generally interbreed only among themselves, and show persistent dif- ferences from members of allied species. Species may include subspecies, populations, stocks, or other taxonomic classifications less than full species." This means that just as introducing a European species anywhere in the United States would be considered an introduction of a non- indigenous species so also would the transfer of differentiable stocks of the same species (e.g., using Alsea River [OR] coho to stock the Elwha River [WA] or the Florida subspecies of large- mouth bass to stock a Wisconsin lake). This does not mean that such introductions should not be made. Rather, it again reflects an emphasis on the extent of shared ecological and evolutionary history rather than jurisdictional boundaries as the appropriate scale upon which biologically meaningful decisions on introductions should be based. Some of those who commented on the proposed report expressed the view that the broader defini- tion was unjustified and that the definition should be limited to full species. Individual State agencies stated that this definition was extreme and beyond the intent of the legislation. One State agency and one Federal agency commented that the definition lacked precision. There was concern that a lack of precision could inhibit the ability of management agencies to manage important game fish resources. On the other hand, comments by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) strongly sup- ported the definition and noted that it is consis- tentwith the definition contained in the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The definition of species in the ESA "includes any subspecies of fish or wildlife or plants, and any distinct popula- tion segment of any species of vertebrate fish or wildlife which interbreeds when mature." NMFS also noted that it has had to address the decline of Pacific salmonid stocks under the ESA and that stocking of nonindigenous or maladapted hatchery stocks had exacerbated the decline of indigenous stocks. This reflects increasing concern with the possibil- ity that specific adaptations of genetically based wild stocks may be affected by interbreeding with introduced stocks. The North American Commission of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization has developed draft protocols that would prohibit the use of European strains of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salary in aquaculture or stocking. In general terms, they have also adopted the concept of lim- iting stocking and aquaculture activities where 3