Oregon Sea Grant

The decline of Pacific salmon has had its full share of controversy and conflict. Certainly one of the most controversial incidents in recent years was the die-off of an estimated 34,000 fish in the Klamath River in September 2002. Although this loss was dramatic because it involved adult fish, the epidemic drew attention to the chronic disease issues that affect the health of migrating juvenile fish. What should be done to improve the health of these fish and insure that such incidents don’t recur is a question with consequences for the farmers, fishers, and communities that depend on the river’s water in Oregon and California, as well as for the tribes and agencies that manage the river.