There’s a long list of what is causing salmon problems. Science lollygagging is the issue. Mismanagement has decimated salmon life and stolen every part of solutions that work, locked them up and thrown away the key. Overharvesting has detracted from salmon physically, and from us mentally. Our failures were beyond unreasonable, yet they keep being supported.
When it comes to losing size, the big fish stays vulnerable longer and most get caught in Alaska or Canada. Smaller fish remaining are a direct result. Nets decimated life for future returns and left salmon unable to sustain themselves. This killed diversity and left too few remaining. Our previous increases in quotas or extended seasons have arrogantly harmed salmon forever.
Shorting hatchery capacity is what stopped the abundance. If you don’t put smolt in, some say we saved salmon. The number killed is astronomical. We have lost and still squander then expect harvest. The elimination of the Hatchery Science Review Group would be a huge win. Our hatcheries are helpful, they bring harvesting back and dilute our predatory focus on wild fish. After decades, this win for all salmon is fulfilling my wishes for fishing to be fun again.
