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Fish or Cut Bait by Eric Jordan Seattle Times, November 10, 2007

"Fish to survive dam plan, agency says" focused only on the plan's implementation costs.

The Times didn't report the costs of failing to recover and sustain these creatures. I live with my family in Sitka, Alaska, where we make our living fishing salmon. Our Alaskan chinook salmon fisheries are closely managed each year and limited in large part by the conservation needs of salmon in the Columbia and Snake rivers.

Every year, we forego weeks of fishing and thousands of healthy chinook salmon in order to help conserve Snake River chinook, threatened by poorly conceived, outdated and - in so many ways - costly dams.

Next week I will be recognized by National Fisherman Magazine as one of its 2007 "Highliners," largely because of my efforts to help conserve, sustain and promote equitable sharing of Alaska fishery resources.

In the Columbia and Snake rivers, recovery must begin with credible science and equitable planning. It is time for the people and industries of the Northwest to step up to the plate, as we have done in Alaska, and start making decisions that secure a healthy future for salmon and communities.

Related Pages:
The opinions and supporting documents are available here.
Idaho's Sockeye: FCRPS Biological Opinion NOAA Fisheries' Executive Summary, 10/31/7