During the mid-1900s, we had salmon. They were vibrant, quite abundant. Salmon were catchable and we all participated. They were fun. We made mistakes that forever took their diversity. Usages were overtaking their sustainment and hatcheries kept it going.
Soon after the Boldt Decision in 1974, salmon and steelhead wild stocks were in river, money fish. Management made sudden changes to accommodate demands.
Management using improper recognition, failed to see wild salmon failing, to rebuilding today a decimated native already conjoined with hatchery spawning fish. Allocations raised so overabundance was money, not waste. Extending harvest times started after allocations fell short. Wild families of fish were destroyed (forever). Legacy on wild evolved by netting rivers like greedy pirates also accelerated blending bloodlines.
Too few wild to sustain and hatchery fish culled this management is just wearing salmon down. Forever gone seems unrealized. Money, time, effort, meaningless harvests, still no fish, proves management ignores critical facts.
