Future Not Looking Good

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-new...a-river-salmon/

It is kind of strange, because the Sound looks healthy then ever. I couldn't fish herring because I would have a smolt strip it every minute or so. The herring are every where, and the squid numbers look stronger than I have ever seen. Maybe some higher numbers of salmon are not migrating out, but I believe the squid do and they are still coming back in huge numbers. The herring numbers just look to be very high. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Lion's mane jellies down to the greater Johns Creek/ Bayshore area...

http://www.sightline.org/2013/03/29/the-...5-mar-28-16-49/

see if this link to Cherry Point hering works...Sightline Institute but data has to predate them by many years

The states last herring assessment they have published is from 2012. It shows the problems with the cherry point stock and some of the north sound and Canal stocks, but also shows a moderately healthy stock in the south sound. From what I can tell, the numbers the last few years are much higher than the 2012 numbers, with this years being the highest yet. They are supposed to do a analysis every 4 years but from this link paperwork they appear to be doing it every 2 years. They should have the numbers for 2014 out, since it appears to take 2 years to publish them, but I don't see anything newer on line. In any case, here are the 2012 stock numbers. http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01628/wdfw01628.pdf

There's no bait, no shakers, no resident fish in puget sound... we didn't see massive schools of candle fish the last few years, and coho fishing in July and August hasn't been the best that I've seen in years, even though we cant fish when and where we used to because north hood canal is closed for all but gillnets

Estuary baitfish are also abundant in the Columbia the last few years. So much so whales have come in to feed. Maybe the baitfish move out of the big blue during poor conditions and take refuge in places like that and in PS? If the baitfish move to places like that, the predators wouldn’t be far behind. Might explain the lack of catch by the researchers.

The whole oceanic food chain, as it affects salmonids, seems to be collapsing. Diets have been forced to change out there and what they are eating is less nutritious. So, they are not as large. Also, at least up in AK, the lower quality of the food (calories per item is falling) means that an adult uses too much energy in metabolism in warmer water and dies because it can't eat enough to stay alive. They just disappear.

Restoration will require dealing with the whole food chain from bottom to top, accumulation of toxins, water conditions and changes in whole currents, the inside waters, and the terrestrial system. Together. We can't even deal well with single pieces of the puzzle.