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Salmon Mean Business by David Cannamela Idaho Statesman, December 17, 2019

On the issue of salmon restoration, we repeatedly hear two prerequisites: "everyone must be kept whole" and no one can be left behind." This is a fair goal. However, to be completely fair, we must recognize those who were made "unwhole" and left behind when the lower Snake River dams destroyed our river and our salmon runs.

Apparently, the economic pain of lost sport fisheries has finally hit home:

• At the Dec. 3 Idaho Outfitters and Guides conference in Lewiston, some wheels started to squeak. Outfitters and guides, hotel owners, restaurateurs and others made abundantly clear what salmon advocates "sloganized" many years ago: "Salmon Mean Business."

• The estimate of what sport fishing could generate in Idaho alone annually, given healthy, sustainable runs, exceeds $500 million.

• Native peoples have lost the foundation of their economic, physical and spiritual well-being.

• Other losers include commercial fisherpeople and regular folks and families who have lost their salmon fishing traditions.

• Orca and countless other creatures are losers, too.

• And, oh yeah, taxpayers fund this whole, insane debacle.