The only way this changes is with directives from the top. I encourage you to write a letter to the commission. I did:


Dear Commissioners and Director,

I am writing to provide feedback on the ongoing management of chinook salmon in Washington. A lot of discussion has been ongoing about chinook management particularly as appertains to hatchery operations. WDFW operates a large number of hatchery facilities producing many millions of chinook fry each year. The goal of these operations are to largely compensate for habitat degradation and supplement natural production. Due to a lack of attention to hatchery operation and failure to compensate for harvest pressures, we see a continual shrinking of hatchery chinook in Washington. This situation is correctable.

See figure 1 of this article:
https://tidalexchange.com/2018/02/09/fisheries-management-for-dummies-1-bigger-fish/
The entire article clearly lays out the case for shrinking chinook. I am asking the commission for three things:
1. For the sake of transparency and accuracy please remove the factually incorrect statements about no change in chinook size (for instance last paragraph of p90 of the draft HMP https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01947/wdfw01947.pdf
2. Articulate a policy to consider chinook size in hatchery management practices. The size of hatchery fish should mirror wild fish. A minimal effort by hatchery managers could realize a major impact at low/no cost.
3. Consider the ramifications of chinook size on ESA listed Killer Whales. One hypothesis regarding the decline in resident Orcas is that the dramatic decrease in chinook size from historic average has negatively impacted the Orcas by decreasing prey size and increasing effort/calorie ratio (Whales have to catch many more fish to stay fully fed).

I appreciate that many conflicting concerns face the commission, but given that this concern heavily involves two ESA listed species, I believe your prompt attention is merited.