A panel of scientists gathered July
1 agreed that climatic and ocean
conditions can greatly affect the
numbers of salmon that return to the
Columbia River Basin to spawn and
complete their life cycle.
But they also warned that information
is still limited about specific
ocean survival cause-and-effects,
and that salmon recovery hopes can't
be pinned solely on a predicted
return to more favorable ocean
conditions.
Fisheries scientists gathered in
Portland last week to explain ...

This year's independent scientific review of proposed Columbia River
Basin fish and wildlife projects included the most detailed look to
date
of nearly 400 project proposals totaling $229 million.
The result? More than 400 pages of advice, criticisms and funding
recommendations from the Independent Scientific Review Panel and a
band
of peer reviewers.
The report shows, in many instances, marked differences in emphasis
from
recommendations compiled by the region's fish and wildlife ...

their parents' return rate. Unfortunately, a variety of factors in-river
and in the ocean affect the rate of return
Still, the 1999 return is just slightly half of the 10-year average
return of 66,000. The historic range (1938 to 1998) has been from 50,000
to 270,000. From 1950 to 1975 the spring chinook return as consistently
above 140,000. Since 1975 counts have been consistently below 100,000.
"But it's good news that out of those extremely low broods we go this
kind of return," ...

A Pacific salmon fishing agreement reached late last week between U.S.
and Canadian negotiators aims to provide trade-offs that quell longstanding
arguments about major salmon "intercepting fisheries" and aid recovery
by setting harvest limits which rise and fall along with fish populations.
Under the new agreement, harvest quotas will be replaced by "abundance-based"
regimes that adjust harvest levels for salmon stocks annually based on
specific stocks' population forecasts. The intent is

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber used a multi-state forum Wednesday to warn
regional power and fish and wildlife interests that they must end their
fractious ways or be left powerless to control their own destiny.
Kitzhaber, in an address to the Northwest Power Planning Council in
Portland, said that provincial bickering must end, and solutions produced,
or Congress may impose its own solutions for energy industry restructuring
and fish and wildlife restoration. He encouraged the Council to take