A Salmon State of Affairs (PT. 3)

In part two, of a Salmon's State of Affairs, I ended with a question: why if we have all this data are Salmon stocks still continuing their downward spiral? I believe the problem is not so much with the procedures that we have for the management of our State salmon fisheries. I believe the problem is with humans having different sets of wants, needs, institutions, laws, morals, special interests, and a general history of waiting too long to change these sets of human affairs before total loss of a natural resource is gone. The problems California fisheries face are essentially social issues in nature. The concept of carrying capacity comes to my mind. Once exceeded populations of species grow beyond the capability of the natural resources to support them ecosystems go haywire. In this case, or at least in the history of salmon fisheries, it wasn't so much populations demands upon the salmon themselves but rather upon the resources in which the salmon themselves demand for survival. We find find that humans share "common" resources with all other species in an ecosystem. The pressures humans have put on the California salmon stocks needed resources for survival come from common river systems where they spawn and rear, Pacific ocean where they grow to adulthood, and terrestrial lands which have great impacts on the aquatic systems as a whole. The incredible diversity of governing bodies and management agencies of these "commons" vary from native tribal people's, big corporate giants in farming, metropolis and state water boards, commercial fishing industry, and a mix of local, state, and federal agencies. The differing interests and pressures at each micro-level create a macro-problem for our State salmon populations that are seemingly insurmoutable. Every group has its spokesman, it's lawyers, it's influential desires for these common resources. Like I said, this is truly and most clearly a social issue. The overuse of each part of the system and the desire to gain the greatest immediate profits (Not just financial) has devastated our natural ecosystems ability to support healthy populations of naturally propagating Salmonids. We humans want to use the lands, the ocean, and the rivers to give ourselves the best quality of life possible. Yet, the problem generally lies with what "lifestyles" must we live to do that and how do we balance the true needs of human affairs now with the idea that we MUST save our fisheries and ecosystems so that our grandchildren's children still have the same beauty and natural resources we have now. In fact, it would be in the best interests of all the group's I mention to do so for long term sustainability. In California, Our fisheries are an important factor of the quality of life for millions of people. (TBC..in Part 4)
"Tightlines" GSF Admin
-Paul