EVIDENCE FROM SCIENTISTS AND EXPERTS
Many of the facts cited on this website are from the following: sources:
(Continue to check this page for relevant, timely & updated links to resources)
Testimony of Richard L. Merrick , Retired Chief Advisor and Director of Scientific Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service, Na$onal Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, U.S. Dept. of Commerce “Suggesting the lack of salmon recovery is a result of pinniped predation ignores well-established science on the primary role habitat loss plays in limiting recovery.”
H.R.9621 - Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026
“Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026)"
Letter from Erin Gless, Executive Director, Pacific Whale Watch Association “Removing them could have serious undesired consequences. As noted above, pinnipeds account for just a few of at least 137 species in Washington that consume salmon. While pinnipeds are predators of salmon, they are more so predators of other salmon predators.” Read the entire letter here >
Letter from Tim Ragen, Ph.D., Retired. Formerly with the National Fisheries Service, and U.S. Marine Mammal Commission.. “There are multiple factors precluding salmon recovery and, decades ago, they were best summarized as the 4 Hs: habitat, hydropower, harvesting, and hatcheries. We have struggled with salmon recovery for 150 years and, over and over again, our lack of success can be atiributed to our failure to address all of those factors in a comprehensive manner that does not place the burden on other species (pinnipeds, seabirds). Read the entire article here >
Report from June 2026 showing Alaskan and Canadian fisheries have under-reported chinook harvesting for decades: https://wildfishconservancy.org/while-orcas-and-salmon-declined-ocean-harvests-of-puget-sound-chinookwere-significantly-underestimated-for-decades/
Interview with Casey McLean, Executive Director, Sealife Response+Rehab+Research (SR3) with KUOW
Opinion piece in Jefferson County Beacon by Rachel S. Imper: https://www.jeffcobeacon.com/op-ed-people-not-seals-are-to-blame-for-salmon-decline/
NOAA September 2024
Elwha report NOAA Fisheries – “The Elwha River Restoration: A Case Study in Adaptive Management for Salmon Recovery”
US Geological Survey reports & others
2021 Elwha Frontiers in Ecology and EvoluHon – “Reconnecting the Elwha River: Spatial Patterns of Fish Response to Dam Removal”
Elwha Recovery Plan Update 2024 Elwha_Salmon_Recovery_Plan_Update_Dec2024_web.pdf
