Larry asked, "Do you have any suggestions to get around the realities you presented especially in the shortest practicable time frame? White River spring Chinook? Or???"

Like Carcassman I think the short term need for forage can only be fulfilled by AK and especially BC backing off the marine water interception of Chinook. The other fast action (would require a Congressional MMPA exemption) that would boost Chinook abundance is to reduce pinnipeds by 50%. Smaller removals just don't offset enough Chinook loss. As the presentation to the Commission illustrates, seal diet is only 1% Chinook, so the only way to make a significant difference is to remove a large number of seals.

The next step was suggested a while ago by Smalma. Hatchery fish culturists need to spawn the largest returning Chinook in hopes of cultivating the fastest growing members of the stock. SRKWs prefer larger Chinook, so selective breeding might bring about a fairly short term improvement.

Culturing more White River springs could probably help. They too have become smaller, but increasing the supply of PS and Salish Sea Chinook certainly won't hurt the orcas.

I should point out that the PSF presentation linked in "the truth" thread, indicates that if the Harrison and SF Thompson Chinook, mainstays of SRKW forage, don't rebound, the SRKWs may be screwed, regardless of any other actions taken by any state or provincial or federal authority.