How do Management Goals for Wild Chinook Salmon Align with Feasibility?

Abstract

Evaluation of goals is crucial for effective management to conserve viable and diverse fish populations and to support harvest. Management of wild Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Snake River basin exemplifies the struggle to meet fisheries goals. Considering contemporary production of juvenile emigrants, it is imperative to determine the survival from emigration to adult (S_e-a) required to meet abundance goals. Increased anthropogenic impact on spawning and rearing habitats leads to higher S_e-a required to attain goals. Wilderness populations exhibit viability and could sustain fisheries with S_e-a lower than required elsewhere. Conversely, populations targeted for habitat restoration demand higher S_e-a to fulfill goals, indicating a need to enhance egg-to-smolt survival. However, S_e-a has fallen below the threshold needed for replacement in all populations, even at current low abundances. Despite these challenges, most populations still possess the potential to achieve abundance goals, emphasizing the importance of strategic interventions to bolster their resilience.