A bunch of these excellent posts get me thinking:
The quotes are in quotes marks with a few comments in between. When I figure out how to highlight or do italics I will try that.

Piper said something I snipped:
"The problem with man trying to fix the fish runs is that there is no way for man to predict what he is doing to the entire food chain until it is too late. Nature in itself is a balancing act and when man tries to correct something its is usually on one side or the other of the balance point."

Very true , Law of unintended consequences.

And SlabHappy said this painful thing:
"The only hope is to allow commercial sale of raised fish only....hatchery born, or farmed. That is why selective fishing is a must. And I don't give a good healthy crap if you are "entitled" or not."

Ouch. I think I see where he is going. separate commercial and hatchery from native fish that make native babies. And no entitlements. I agree. Might work.

And Todd said,
"Virtually our entire hatchery system and protocols are the same, just with a few refinements and ditching of a few really bad ideas, as they have been for over 100 years...that's probably part of why they don't work so well.

Fish on..."

So true. The hatchery and MSY approach has been tried this long, and longer. didn't work then. Doesn't work now. "One definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome."

billjr64 opined, with honest intent:
"You native only guys,PLEEEASE. Isn`t there a PETA meeting or similiar that your missing out on? I thought this website was for fishermen. If your really for shutting down all the hatcheries and you eventually get your way, there`s going to be a whole lot fewer of us in the future. Bill"

Prolly not any PETA guys here, unless you mean "People Eating Tasty Animals." And I am pretty sure there are only fishermen here. You can make a strong case for shutting down all the hatcheries, and closing down all fisheries, and letting the "Wild," "Native," and "Hatchery" fish sort it out. That would include changing off shore fisheries and broaching a few dams,of course. And letting some fish carcasses degrade up rivers. Not likely, as in, not an answer.

And Piper summed it up:
"Dont worry Bill we will never get our way... there is too much money in both producing and harvesting fish...

I will give you the fact that fishing would be awesome if all the rivers spit out the clones like the Bogy or the Cow back in the day... But honestly though, I would take a run of mother natures finest anyday of the week.

It is a global problem that is going to take a global solution... hatcheries are just a patch that covers the real issues..."


Gents, and Ladies, we either figure this out and add to the solution, or we roll over and whine. I am not ready to roll over. We may not be able to make a difference but it is a foregone conclusion that if we don't work on it then our kids lose. I intend to work on it. If we lose, then we lose. Let's plan on succeeding.


Thanks.