It’s important to recognize that fishing alone is not the problem. Pacific salmon are struggling for many reasons, including historical overfishing, but their challenge to thrive is impacted by the loss of habitat in streams, rivers, and seas, impacts of industry and commerce – pollution, dams, logging. Contrary to expectation, releasing hatchery fish has not improved the prospects for wild salmon stocks.
Restoring wild salmon to the Pacific Northwest will require a collective effort. We recognize that fishermen have spearheaded and funded some of the most effective habitat restoration efforts, especially in salmon spawning rivers.
We don’t want to erode anyone’s cultural, historical, or economic connection to wild salmon, rather we want to ensure the long-term sustainability of this important species, so that there is an abundance for all that depend upon them – humans and marine mammals alike.