Myassisdragon-

I agree that doing something about that interception to the north seems like the logical way to go. With the US/Canada Salmon treaty up for renewal (for 2019) this may be the time to take that task on.

I also think a potential lever to crack that nut would be under the Endangered Species Act. It has been well established that high priority need for the ESA listed Puget Sound resident orcas is increasing their forage base. With Chinook being their # 1 prey item reducing the interception of southern US Chinook stocks (Puget Sound and Columbia river stocks) may be the most immediate way to get more fish for the orcas. With many of the Chinook stocks as well as the orcas being ESA listed the obvious pressure point is NOAA Fisheries and their upcoming review of the new US/Canada treaty and whether those northern fisheries involve an unacceptable ESA take for listed Orca and/or Chinook stocks.

The tribal and non-treaty fishers as well as those groups concern with the orcas would seem to be obvious allies in a lobbying effort on NOAA fisheries.

Curt