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March 11, 1993 

 Chairman Vento 

 Page Three 



Important Considerations About Causes Of Decline In Northwest Salmonid Populations 



1 . Anadromous salmon and trout of the Pacific Northwest have a complex life history. These 

 fish require freshwater, marine, and estuary habitat. (An estuary is an arm of the sea at the 

 mouth of a river; it contains a mixture of fresh and salt water.) Thus, they are vulnerable to 

 adverse impacts in areas other than the freshwater environment. 



2. The migratory natvire of many of these fish takes them out of local jiarisdiction and exposes 

 them to fisheries in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Canada, and the high seas. 



3. No single factor, but rather a multitude of fisheries management and environmental factors 

 affect the abundance and health of these fish. 



4. Industrial and urban development and associated increases in human population have 

 contributed to the decline of salmonid populations in the Pacific Northwest. 



It is vinrealistic to expect the same nimiber of fish in the 1990s as occurred in the 1890s. 



5. Of all factors considered, fishing is the most responsible for direct and indirect fish 

 mortality. 



6. While salmonid populations have been decreasing, populations of some major predator 

 species of marine mammals and sea birds, which are protected by federal laws, have been 

 increasing. Since the Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed in 1972, West Coast 

 populations of harbor seals and California sea hons have been increasing between 4 and 12 

 percent per year. 



7. The most productive habitats for fish rearing occur in the flood plains and estuaries of 

 rivers. These areas have long been cleared of trees and other vegetation and are now altered 

 and used for agriculture, highways, railroads, navigation, ports, marinas, flood control, water 

 diversions, and development of urban, industrial, and recreational complexes. These areas have 

 relatively few regulations that protect fisheries and little chance of returning to nature. 



8. The least naturally productive habitats for fish rearing occur in streams in upland areas that 

 are normally forested. These areas have steep gradients and the streams have narrow channels 

 and rapid flow rates. Forest practices are regiJated more than any other land or water use 

 practice. Yet these area, although managed, are maintained as vegetated landscapes. 



9. Replacement in streams of large woody debris, previously removed from logged areas by 

 agency decree - but now known to be important for fish habitat, will takes years to decades 

 to effectively recreate much needed rearing and feeding habitat. 



10. Further improvements in freshwater habitats may not result in increased salmonid 

 abundance unless similar improvements occur in important estuarine habitat, which now may 

 be limiting. 



