Court Decision - Alaska ordered to reduce Salmon Harvest

[IronNoggin]

On Monday, in response to a lawsuit filed by Wild Fish Conservancy, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michelle Peterson issued a report and recommendation finding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by relying on undeveloped and uncertain future mitigation to authorize commercial salmon harvest at levels that NOAA admits are pushing federally-protected Southern Resident orcas and wild Chinook closer to extinction.

https://wildfishconservancy.org/fede...-killer-whales

[Jagermeister]

There has to be a happy balance somewhere. It would be nice if the orcas would balance their diet and target seals. After all, seals eat salmon so the orcas would be getting the same supplement if they ate seat.. Seal Who eats seats?

[IronNoggin]

... Who eats seats?

The Biggs (aka "Transient") Orcas eat seals, sea lions and other whales.
Their populations are increasing to numbers beyond recorded historic levels.

Cheers,
Nog

[adriaticum]

Alaska salmon fishery is a shit show.
I don't think they have a clue who is catching salmon in the area. Outside of US territorial waters.
Until commercial fishing in international waters is banned, fish stocks will keep declining.
Now with Alaska going down the tube maybe something will finally be done.

[Bugle M In]

the whole problem around here is J pod.
everyone knows about them, some make money off of them.
so, its all about j pod.

Iron brings up an interesting point, that transients are increasing in population.
Ironically, that is never mentioned by the media and alike!

And scientifically speaking, when a species explode, like seals, who are in the "middle of the food chain", 2 things happen.
Their food source like salmon go down, but it should also cause those that predate on seals to go up.
J pod sounds like a group that is destined to extinct themselves if they cant figure out how tasty seals are!

[HarryToolips]

That's not good......

[IronNoggin]

That's not good......

It is actually a mixed sort of message...

Alaska has always been the Wild Card in terms of salmon management.
They have managed from the State level, to which the fed's have pretty much always concurred with.
It is recognized that their bycatch in the pollock / hake trawls is very very high, and that they simply pay lip service (we're trying to do better) each and every year while repeating the same problem.
And as the article noted above states, they have set catch limits well beyond what could be considered sustainable for a very long time.

So on one hand it is good to reign them in.
How far that will get is anyone's guess.
As most suspected the State has already filed an appeal.

Should the reductions be applied, it would spell more salmon for BC and points south.
The vast majority of Alaska's over-harvests come from here and there.

On the other hand have a look at who filed the suit.
Same group that has attacked sports fishing, demanding ever increasing reductions from that sector (both BC & US) as well.
With the fuzzy warmies from this recent win, how long will it be before they refocus on the recreational aspect again?

Cheers,
Nog

[adriaticum]

[IronNoggin]

Yes, China, Japan and other countries fish just outside (and sometimes sneak inside) territorial waters of many countries.
And yes, this happens in Canada and to some extent in Alaska.
So that likely is a compounding bottleneck for salmon survival.
Agreed.

But the case in point here is really focused on Alaska, wherein obvious concerns are being addressed via court action.

Nog

[Bugle M In]

My understanding was the same.
Alaska is a little bit like the old wild west when it came to their salmon fishery.
Reigning them in would be a benefit to BC and returning salmon to our waters.
Mined you, we also harvest some of the USA bound salmon to the south of us, so it is a wash.

I really want to know what the feds here have in mind with all that allocating money they announced.
I fear i will be shaking my head in the end.
Hoping i am wrong.