Earth Equity News

Salmon Decline Is a Wake-up Call. Commentary by Doug Howell, SeattleP-I, April 29, 2008. "It is hard to find the silver lining in a situation as dire as the collapse of wild salmon off the Oregon and California coasts... From the fishermen and suppliers to the restaurants and individuals who buy salmon at the market, it is another blow to our struggling economy. As families, communities and local businesses try to deal with the consequences of this year's fishery collapse, scientists are working to understand the causes. Rising to the top of that list -- the 800-pound gorilla in the room -- is global warming. As ocean temperatures rise, snow pack declines and rain patterns shift, global warming will continue to disrupt the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems. The plight of wild salmon is an indication of global warming's increasing and over-arching threat. The sooner we take action the better the outcome for people and salmon." Doug Howell is regional executive director of National Wildlife Federation, Western Natural Resource Center, Seattle.