Absolutely. Restoration of salmon is too politically inconvenient.

Notice how well ESA has worked (it has, actually) on some species like Grizzly, wolves, Condors, Peregrines, Whooping Cranes, gators ... They don't have big consumptive harvests associated with them and they appeal to a broader audience. They also are "watchable" so a non-consumptive industry can grow up around them.