 coho salmon we must move to a single regulatory body that can protect them throughout their entire life cycle and in all the environments they inhabit.
In California all stocks of coho salmon have shown a precipitous decline for over 80 years. All coho salmon stocks South of Punta Gorda are at a mere fraction of the past abundance. Small coastal streams have either small or intermittent runs of adults or populations are extinct. Most stocks of coho have been heavily supplemented with hatchery fish and wild coho salmon rare in this part of California. The National Marine Fisheries Biological Review Team (BRT) conclusion was dire regarding Central California coho salmon stocks, There was unanimous agreement among the BRT members that natural populations of coho salmon in this ESU are presently in danger of extinction. For the remainder of Northern California coho salmon stocks the BRT concluded, There was unanimous agreement among the BRT that coho salmon in this ESU are not in danger of extinction but are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future if presents trends continue.
The collapse of coho populations and extinctions of others is felt throughout the food chain of the aquatic environment. The present losses of just salmon carcass is causing an ecological catastrophe for many other species, as some are slowly being starved of the nutrients that are recycled by salmon carcasses and others directly starved by not having this seasonal food source.
The listing is requested by the Salmon Steelhead Recovery Coalition after considerable study. Careful review of the existing data indicates the listing is warranted, and the SSRC request that the Fish and Game Commission use the special protections afforded by the California Endangered Species Act help protect and restore our coho salmon populations.
Maps and Figures - National Marine Fisheries Service (not included in this version but filed with original).
Baracco, A. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento CA 95814
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Cox, Dr. William, California Department of Fish and Game Sacramento CA.
Emmett, R.L. ; S.L. Stone; S.A. Hinton and M.E. Monaco. 1991. Distribution and Abundances of Fishes an