Salmon in Trouble

Farm-raised salmon is easy to find in grocery stores and on restaurant menus, creating a sense of plenty for many consumers. And ocean conditions favorable to Washington State have boosted hatchery returns in recent years. But wild salmon runs in the Northwest are in grave trouble. Their numbers have fallen dramatically over the past century.

According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, 26 out of 52 salmon and steelhead populations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California are either threatened or endangered. The factors responsible for this decline are complex and far-reaching, including habitat loss due to human activities, overfishing, and outdated hatchery practices. Protecting and restoring Northwest salmon will demand multiple strategies, broad-based community involvement, and a sustained commitment. We all have a part to play.