Interesting article I was reading started out below. Amazing how this has not changed.

Managing Salmon for
Ecosystem Needs in the
Pacific Northwest:
Limiting Science Input in
Ecosystem Management—Silos R Us
J. Hal Michael, Jr., Science Outreach Director, Sustainable Fisheries Foundation, 511 Flora Vista Road NE, Olympia, WA

The mindset permeating salmonid management in Washington,
and probably most other fisheries managed worldwide, can be
encapsulated in the last draft of a steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss
management plan that was developed by the state of Washington
and treaty Indian tribes 26 years ago (Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife [WDFW], unpublished data):
A purpose of fisheries management is to ensure achievement
of a desired level of catch. In order to maintain this
level, it is necessary to prevent the capture of a certain
portion of the run, so that these uncaught fish can spawn
and produce fish for future use. An escapement allowance
must be evaluated primarily according to whether it
achieves the catch objective.



Note that fish serve two purposes: catch and production of
catch. No other values or benefits are recognized.