why the salmon population is runnig low

[racfish]

Please explain a dead zone? is that where the oxygen levels are depleted as in certain areas in Hoods Canal?

[Rich McVey]

Please explain a dead zone? is that where the oxygen levels are depleted as in certain areas in Hoods Canal?

Exactly -

AP - Like a chronic disease spreading through the body, "dead zones" with too little oxygen for life are expanding in the world's oceans. New low-oxygen areas are now reported in Samish Bay of Puget Sound and Yaquina Bay in Oregon. Pollution-fed algae, which deprive other living marine life of oxygen, is the cause of most of the world's dead zones. Scientists mainly blame fertilizer and other farm run-off, sewage and fossil-fuel burning. "If we screw up the energy flow within our systems we could end up with no crabs, no shrimp, no fish."

[Jake Dogfish]

Great points Gisteppo.
We need another attempt at something like Intiative 696, that was to stop commercial netting in puget sound several years back.
It was winning easily until the commercial fisherman spent millions on a tv campaign with Crying kids "don't take Daddy's job" etc. Stop the Commercials first and only then can we do something about the tribes IMO. We have to do something about the gill netting which systematically lets smaller fish return and spawn year after year while harvesting the largest and gentically superior fish.

[racfish]

I've seen pics of mass sealife kills.Its quite gross looking not to mention the stench must be horrendus.Its scarey indeed reading about the marine life and what they are finding in their systems.Pretty gross stuff.I know some fish I clean are very questionable on if they are safe to eat.The more I read the more I change my views on C&R.Its like C&R is the safest way to enjoy this great sport.

[christopherbeebe]

I know some fish I clean are very questionable on if they are safe to eat.The more I read the more I change my views on C&R.Its like C&R is the safest way to enjoy this great sport.

i hear ya buddy.. i've actually sworn off any bottom fish caught from my section of the puget sound (area 11 redondo, des moines, dashpoint, tacoma). sometimes when i catch a flounder infested with parasites on its fins i cut them out thinking maybe it'll help the fish even a little bit. one time i caught a nice ling cod off the des moines pier took it home and when i cleaned it; it smelled just like the rotten egg smell that puget sound is known for. :pale: pollution its bad for everybody.

[racfish]

I know this will show my age but.....Back in the late 70's we tried to fight netting.I myself tried to show that fishing the traditional way was not using gill-nets.We try to say let them fish but as the ancestors did.For alot of time and effort we got back a form letter thanking us for our hard work and inputs.Signed by I want to say Dan Evans.So to me I doubt youll get anywhere in Wa state to make any difference.Its a federal law not a state law .Im willing to sign any document and support the cause in anyway I can.As long as its not some lobbyist from New Mexico trying to tell us how to do it.There was a group last year that came to the NW .They said they were trying something I dont remember too much cuz I was booted out.Hehehe.But those kind of lobbyists just suck taxpayers money for nada.GOOD LUCK and G-D SPEED.