Disconcerting news; thanks for posting.

I've generally been an advocate of net pens simply from an economic view--the more fish on the market, the lower the demand for wild fish. Prior to this report, my impression was that most escapees of Atlantics involved adults. Some the escape numbers have been pretty spectacular over the last 10-20 years, but there is absolutely no evidence that these fish have reproduced to a point of producing a naturally reproduced adult Atlantic salmon (a few fry were observed in a one or two Vancouver Is. streams I believe, but no wild adults).

The escape of juveniles into any natural system can represent another story. While adults have been raised in a net pen there whole lives and are very ill equipped to life in the wild (not to mention being raised in the wrong ocean), it would make sense that juveniles would at least have the opportunity to adapt to conditions and, if they survived to maturity, could be more successful at reproducing. Another big concern is the effect of a large number of "foot long" juvenile Atlantics on wild juvenile salmon.

Lets hope WDFW took out stomachs to do stomach contents analysis on the fish to determine if they've been feeding on sub-yearling coho. If they escaped this spring, they could have made hay with outmigrating chinook and chums, as well. Since WDFW is considering an active removal program, all of the fish removed should be examined for what they're eating. Results can probably be published in the scientific literature since I do not believe anything like this has been studied. If it is found that substantial predation is occurring on juvenile salmon, the issue really needs addressing. If predation on chinook is occurring this would represent a direct take under ESA and depending on how happy the Feds get, may really shut things down.

does this mean we can fish for them? scatter creek is about 10 minutes from my house, wouldn't mind catching a few trout sized ones for the frying pan <img border="0" alt="[eat]" title="" src="graemlins/eat.gif" />

What a bunch of BS. The commercial hatchrey guys should be paying for 100% of the cost for removing these fish and be liable for any damage they do.. Just another time where we clean up after big bussiness screws us. we cant farm them safely and we can't harvest them safely I say make the sale of salmon and steelhead illegal. If you want one to eat drive to the Cowlitz and catch one

They are going to help in removel, and it seems someone removed a catch screen that is intended to keep fish out of the creek. At this time vandelism is thought to be the culpret.

All your concern is well intentioned but...

It is a "Chicken Little" reaction to a non-event.

The DFW tried for years to establish Atlantic Salmon in the rivers of the NW and despite multiple plantings of eggs, fry, smolt and mature adults their best efforts failed.

These juvenile fish, at least the ones that escape the expense and effort aimed at removing them, will go to sea and those that survive and return to spawn will fail.

Too bad though! They are excellent fighting and tasty eating sport fish.

Rob Allen,

I couldn't agree any more!! I would love to see salmon and steelhead on the same level with deer and elk. I, too, honestly believe if people want to eat steelhead, and maybe even salmon, they should have to catch it themselves.

It's such an easy cost effective thing to do, too. Turn those commercial boats into charter boats. The mind boggles at the positive economic impact that would have.

Sigh. Oh well, nice dream, eh?

I too was happy that farming was cutting into netters profits but the jury is still out for me whether farming is good or bad in the long run. There are a lot of links out there about Norways severe problem with escaped fish spawning. They've been farming since 1960.

This one is kind of interesting and seemingly non-biased:

http://www.novascotiasalmon.ns.ca/newsandissues/aquaculture.htm