[env-trinity] Counting salmon in hatcheries? Why not count fish sticks?

[Richard Pruitt]

Fishy figures 

Counting salmon in hatcheries? Why not count fish sticks? 
May 14, 2004


Press Democrat Editorial 


The public would certainly like to see evidence that some Pacific 
salmon and steelhead are ready to be removed from the U.S. Endangered 
Species Fishy figures 

Counting salmon in hatcheries? Why not count fish sticks? 
May 14, 2004


The Bush administration plans to make a policy shift that would allow 
the counting of fish in hatcheries -- as well as those in the wild -- 
in determining whether certain populations of fish should no longer 
be listed as endangered or threatened. 

You can't even call this fuzzy math -- just fuzzy logic.


The new policy, which is expected to be announced later this month, 
runs contrary to the advice of the Bush administration's own panel of 
experts who note that even after a century of human-induced production 
through hatcheries, wild salmon runs have declined. 

The policy closely follows the ideas of Mark Rutzick, who used to be 
the timber industry's top attorney in its environmental battles with 
the federal government. Where is Rutzick today? He's a high-ranking 
political appointee in the Bush administration giving out 
environmental advice.


Counting fish in hatcheries is akin to counting salmon sandwiches. 
It might make the numbers look good, but it does nothing to monitor 
the health of fish. This smells of politics and should be tossed out.




Richard Pruitt
rickpruitt at earthlink.net
Why Wait? Move to EarthLink.
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