the film forum library tutorial contact

Saving Salmon: We Need to Clean Up Our Act by Norm Johnson Kitsap Sun, February 3, 2008

I am interested in preserving wild salmon (because I and many other people like to fish for them, eat them, and they are an integral part of our Northwest way of life) and orcas (because I think they are amazing, beautiful animals that I enjoy viewing from a distance).

Some may think these interests are mutually exclusive, but I believe we can restore abundant runs of salmon for people and whales. What it will take is courageous action on the part of our leaders and ourselves.

We need to clean up our act and get toxins out of Puget Sound, and get moving on the removal of salmon-killing dams that have outlived their usefulness. The Elwha dams will come out eventually (too bad it won't happen sooner).

In the eastern part of our state, even communities which once defended dams on the lower Snake River are now rethinking their utility.

There are undoubtedly many other difficult actions that need to be taken to restore salmon to the point where there is enough for everyone, human and otherwise. But I for one think it's worth trying.