The sockeye numbers are depressing because it has occurred in our memories and we have "data". All species of Pacific salmon and steelhead have shown a similar drop; we are functioning at 5-10% but because that happened "a long time ago" we pretty much discount those losses when we look at recovery.

In the 1970s WDF set escapement goals for PS Chinook. In the document they admitted that the goals would not utilize the available habitat. And, it wasn't reasonable to try to fill it. In another document the were describing the problems they had with achieving goals in some streams. The solution was to lower the goals, after which congratulations were spread around for hitting the goal.

But, we kept fishing.