I disagree Aunty. I think maybe the bio's do have the answeres. THey just lack the political will or power to bring them to pass.

THe answeres to reverese salmonid decline are simple. Biology would dictate the following solutions (in this order I think):

1. Stop Habitat degradation (no more bad logging, development, channelization, dams, filling of estuaries, etc).

2. Restore degraded habitat (remove dams, dikes, restore estuaries, stabilize slides, etc).

3. Prevent fishing for salmon on the feeding grounds ( ALLOW ONLY TERMINAL AREA FISHERIES--minimize mixed stock harvest, and selection against fast growing fish).

4. Use selective Harvest methods (ie Reef nets, wiers, fish weels, and single barbless hooks) to harvest only targeted species.

5. Protect spawning fish and parr from fishing pressure.

6. Mangage for MSY.


If these things were done fish would recover. THe only limiting thing would be what the habitat can support. If 1-5 are done 6 will work.

The problem is all of these fly in the face of the other wants of society. THe only thing fishers have direct control over is 3, 4, and 5. We stink at those, always complaining about bait bans, or selective rules. How can we expect society to make sacrifices for fish when even the fishers won't sacrifice.

WSR is a very small part of #4. Overall a step in the right direction, but in the context of recovery not very significant. We should be focused on #1 and #2.

Just my $0.02