As usual, I agree with what you are saying, Salmo. Population increase is probably to blame (at some point) for just about every factor contributing to the decline of our native species, and no doubt, it will eventually take its toll on the sea-runs.

That said, another factor in their relative success has probably been that many of them spawn in small streams that support few or no food fish or are closed to fishing. This protects them from heavy fishing pressure during their spawning cycle (and thereby incidental and/or intentional hooking or gillnet mortality). These smaller and/or more remote streams also tend to have spawning habit that is likely near to on par with what they have had historically, which is a luxury our salmon and steelhead rarely enjoy. Granted, some of that habitat will begin to be lost to development as the population continues to grow, but for now, I think there are reasons to be somewhat optimistic on the SRC front.

I sure hope I'm right....