quote=Todd][To increase the numbers of fish, you have to reduce or eliminate the limiting factor.

The limiting factor is the one "thing" that is most responsible for the amount of fish we have now.

Especially in Puget Sound, habitat is the limiting factor. The habitat, as it exists now, can only support so many fish...that is about the amount of fish we have in Puget Sound right now.

You can end harvest completely...sport here, B.C., and Alaska, and commercial, here, B.C., and Alaska...and there won't be all that much of an increase of actual fish...there might be the first year when those extra fish that weren't harvested return, but there won't be the following generation.

The habitat cannot support more fish, no matter how many more are sent up there.

The habitat is the limiting factor.

Until there is habitat to support more fish, there will not be more fish, no matter what is done with harvest.

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I have to disagree that lack of habitat "IS" the end all, be all limiting factor. But, I'm no scientist either.
I for one would love to see the returning fish at least have a chance to utilize the habitat that exists.
When it comes to numbers, it's hard to know what numbers to believe. I Believe that you can seque stats to suit your own interests.

But, that's just my opinion, nothing more.