Salmo G....
Quote:
However, it is the declining productivity and capacity of habitat that drives escapement goals downward.
Did you mean "escapement goals" or "escapement"?

Smalma.....(in reference to the Snohomish Coho run)
Quote:
The 5 year average escapement is more than 2.5 times the escapement goal. It would appear the local fisheries managers have failed miserably in harvesting every last fish. Those kinds of densities should be adequate to insure that at least some natural selection is still operating on the population.
Are you trying to say that the over-escapement in the Snohomish system is a waste? Do you suppose all those wasted fish will (a) be unable to find a place to spawn (b) hatch offspring that will die due to lack of feed or (c) contribute to the ever increasing numbers of fish?

I have a real problem with the concept of capacity as interpretted by the powers that be. I grew up here. My dad grew up in Monroe. My mom grew up between Sultan and Monroe. My dad's folks grew up in Monroe. My mom's folks moved here from Montana in the early 1900's.

I think I have some idea of what constitutes a large run of fish.

I experienced First Hand the impact of Boldt. The availability of fish in off reservation rivers shot downward within very few years of the expansion of netting practices due directly to Boldt.

If there is anyone who knows of a link to data on any tribal-affected, off-reservation river showing fish numbers for ten years prior to Boldt to ten years following Boldt I would truely like to read it. Perhaps the numbers of fish prior to that dead Judge will be somewhat indicative of capacity? Certainly none after are.

For any who are interested....if you want to read a success story about stopping commercialing and replacing it with the benefits of a sports fishery, try doing a search for the history of the Redfish fishery in Florida. Now THAT'S how to manage! Rant over.
_________________________
Agendas kill truth.
If it's a crop, plant it.