I accept the reality of what they want, but their assumption of good habitat does not square with available information, such as the "properly functioning conditions" developed by NMFS 20 years ago. If their key assumption is wrong, it follows that their conclusion is not supported.

Complete cessation of hatchery production would be devastating not only for fisheries but also for components of the ecosystem that depend on salmon, such as killer whales. There may not be very many fans of marine mammals on this board, but it can't be denied that further loss of salmon would hurt whale and seal populations. I don't see this point often raised in the hatchery discussion, and I think it should be.