118 



Mr. Vento. Our concern is that we have to go over there and 

 vote. But, Mr. Palmisano, I know it is unfair to ask to you summa- 

 rize your statement. Please try and do so now, and probably we 

 will leave it at that. 



STATEMENT OF DR. JOHN F. PALMISANO 



Mr. Palmisano. Mr. Chairman and the subcommittee members, 

 thank you for the opportunity to address the subcommittee. I am 

 an independent fishery scientist from Portland, Oregon. I have a 

 Ph.D. in fisheries from the University of Washington in Seattle, 

 and I am a certified fishery scientist. I have 20 years of profes- 

 sional experience in consulting, research, and teaching in the Pa- 

 cific Nortnwest. 



I am representing the Northwest Forest Resource Council of 

 Portland, Oregon. The council and I feel strongly that before solu- 

 tions can be applied to the salmon problem, the problem must be 

 thoroughly defined. Only after knowing the causes can the solu- 

 tions be proposed and fairly implemented. 



In the last 12 months, I have coauthored two scientific studies 

 that reviewed the factors that have adversely affected Pacific 

 Northwest salmon stocks. The first report was prepared for the Or- 

 egon Forest Industry Council in June 1992. And the second report 

 was prepared in January 1993 for the Washington Forest Protec- 

 tion Association and the Washington State Department of Natural 

 Resource. 



The sole objective of both studies was to provide a thorough and 

 honest evaluation of all factors that have adversely affected the 

 wild anadromous stocks of Pacific Northwest salmon and trout. 



Our finding showed that no single factor but rather a multitude 

 of factors, including forestry, contribute to the reduction of abun- 

 dance of wild anadromous salmon trout. We identified two major 

 categories of factors, environmental and fisheries management. En- 

 vironmental factors included water-use and land-use practices, nat- 

 ural phenomena, and biological interactions. Fisheries management 

 factors included agency policies and actions, harvest, and hatchery 

 practices. 



We found that wild fish abundance was reduced by lost produc- 

 tivity caused by habitat loss and degradation, by additional mortal- 

 ity caused by environmental and by fisheries management factors, 

 and by changes in fish size and genetics caused primarily by fish- 

 eries management practices. 



Both reports present a balanced and comprehensive scientific re- 

 view of the factors that have led to the decline of salmonid runs 

 in Oregon and Washington. The reports identify the following as 

 significant contributors to the decline of Pacific Northwest salnion 

 populations: Permissive salmon management policies; overfishing 

 and inadequate spawning escapement; major irrigation, hydro- 

 power, and flood control projects; intensive land use practices; pre- 

 dation; and climatic factors. 



If we want to solve the salmon problem, we must be aware of 

 very important information. Anadromous salmon and trout of the 

 Pacific Northwest have a complex life history. These fish reauire 

 freshwater, marine, and estuary habitat. They are vulnerable to 

 adverse impacts in areas other than the freshwater environment. 



