Posted by Smalma
"“There aren't many successes in Washington because the wild runs were harvested until the numbers dropped below critical levels. The WSC thought that stopping harvest before that level might be prudent.”

This clearly is just an opinion that is not supported by any information or data. To my knowledge no one has established what such a critical level might be. Clearly we have examples of runs rebuilding from populations much lower than we are seeing in most of the populations of concern – SF Toutle after St. Helens would be an example. In the run size/escapement graphs present by WSC the most recent returns of concern were from parent escapements at levels at or above levels previously seen (the Puyallup being the only exception). This argument doesn’t seem to be supported by either fact or logic."

I certainly agree that we don't know where the critical bottom line for wild steelhead populations is at, but my OPINION is that we have fished stocks below that level even though WDFW models showed those stocks as being healthy 5 years before.
The example of the Toutle is interesting because I believe there was NO fishing in river on the fish as they rebounded. What has happened since is a different story for a different time.

As posted by Smalma
"
Of course it doesn’t set a precedent for either Oregon or B.C. as both allow the harvest of wild steelhead in some areas (they don’t have a state or providence wide moratoriums or prohibition on the talking of wild steelhead). In fact Oregon’s harvest of wild steelhead is much the same as Washington’s before the moratorium – that is harvest of 1 wild fish a day, 5 per year on systems with healthy populations (above established escapement levels). It is my understanding that there has been serious consideration given to expanding the opportunity to harvest wild fish. His argument again doesn’t seem to be support by either fact or logic."

This again is my opinion but I vaguely remember that in the case of Oregon that there was a complete moritorium for some years until the stocks rebuilt in a couple of southren Oregon rivers to the point that OFW felt those stocks could handle some harvest. I don't know what models OFW uses.