A recent post discussed a concept of allowing anglers to catch "excess" fish - those that exceed the river's holding capacity. I also remember seeing reports from Alaksa a few years back about how too any sockeye returning would exceed the systems carrying capacity thus endangering future runs.

I have seen rivers in Alaska where salmon redds were literally on top of each other. The rivers get back huge runs each year. I could see no problem.

I wonder, how did nature get along before we stepped in to limit excess fish from returning? Is there a real problem with excess fish coming into a system? Any ideas?

I think the concept of exceeding a river's holding capacity is commercial fishing industry propoganda.

It seems to me that the fish and game people use this as a way to go for numbers for maximum sustainable yield. They seem to forget about mother nature's rule about survival of the fitest.

There are no "excess" fish. Nutrients are brought back to the land from the sea by retuning adults to nourish the riparian zone. And beyond.

After consulting with the "real" experts, the only possible conclusion is that there are never too many fish on the spawning beds.

Any fish killed are too many fish killed and any impact is too much impact.

If we really care about the resource then...
We all gotta quit fishing.

Exactly, the commercials havee convinced they are the saviors of the river up here. Which is basicially an excuse to fish more for socks that they get 66 cents a lb for.

I don't think you could really have an excess of sockeye in a river when there are probably plenty of bears around that would converge on the feast. Studies have indicated that when salmon carcasses decompose they release marine derived isotops of carbon and nitrogen that are blended into the terrestrial and fluvial ecosystem as enriching agents in a positive feedback loop. Those nutrients fuel the productivity of the environment which juvenile salmon depend on to live.

As for Dave Vedders comment about sockeye redds being practically on top on each other, it is not an occurance exclusive to the Kasilof. Sockeye, chum, & pinks are termed "mass spawners". They migrate in hordes and will use up every available space in the river for spawning. When there is no more space superimposition occurs in which case an existing redd can be partially or wholly dug up to make room for a new redd. One good example of a stream where mass spawning and superimposition takes place is Kennedy Creek in South Puget Sound, because there are only a few available miles of spawning habitat due to an impassible waterfall not far from the mouth of the creek.