The impact of predators (pinnipeds and avian) on both out migrating smolts and returning adults is garnering a great deal of attention and rightfully so.

I had not read the article you posted but as posted on a previous thread:

"Here is a link to the Chasco report: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-14984-8.

And a December 2018 WDFW Staff presentation to the Commission:

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/...esentation.pdf."

As I recall it was estimated that harbor seals consumed around 12 million Puget Sound origin Chinook smolt or roughly 22% of that study year's production of both hatchery and wild fish. Just harbor seals.

Yes, there are many factors adversely impacting rate of returns but failure to recognize and address predation is problematic in terms of SRKW recovery as well as that of wild Chinook - both ESA listed.
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