Improving the salmon runs is a complex issue: spawning habitat, dams, Columbia river netting, ocean commerical fishing, seals, ocean conditions (am I forgetting anything) all play a role in the number of salmon we have. Focusing on whether it is the dams or the netting or commerical fishing is a distraction to this ruling. This ruling can turn salmon fishing into something like the put-n-take hatchery trout stock at city parks.

This ruling is scary enough as it stands but the legal precedent can make the ESA obsolete. Imagine, spotted owls keeping you from logging old growth? No problem, build a zoo to hold a couple dozen pair of spotted owls and log away.
Any species that get in your way can just be kept in a zoo and then you're good to go.

If this sounds far-fetched, just realize that this ruling separates out the species from the habitat.

Some think the nets are a major issue. I think the dams are the major issue, but this ruling is about native vs hatchery fish. If this policy goes into effect, the nets and the dam can stay or even increase, we just need to build a few more hatcheries. We wouldn't even have to worry about pollution, we can just barge the fish all the way to the ocean...better yet, just raise the fish to adult size and stock them in the city park pond.

--bdb