I've wondered about this issue; a tribal fishery on a non-native run. I haven't looked into the legalities of it, but I presume its a 'Usual and Accustomed Fishing Grounds' issue. If they've always fished Lake WA, then they can continue to do so under the treaties, regardless of the species. This makes sense, particularly if fisheries were lost when the Cedar was re-routed, but I'm guessing here. Salmo G., care to comment here.

As for fisheries making money or not, the tribes can join that club with the commercials. Whether something is viable or not does not mean they can't pursue it. And like the commercials that still fish dwindling numbers of Puget Sound and WA coast fish, they do it part time, to supplement other income.

As far as the tribes vs marine mammals, well at least the tribes don't fish when escapement goals can't be met. The marine mammals, particularly with their protected status, can do some serious damage in down years. And there was nary a California sea lion in Puget Sound 20 years ago.