Thank you, Mr. Johns.
I think it's important to note that the enthusiasm and the willingness and the science are all there. What is lacking, obviously, is adequate funding to support the variety and the multitude of projects that we all acknowledge need to be completed.
The question is where the money comes from. That question is far above my pay grade, but I can say that we first need to focus on habitat restoration, then invasive species control and then potentially hatchery production. Augmentation will fail if the habitat is degraded, and we cannot ensure viability if that habitat is replete with invasive species. It's a circle: restore the habitat, remove aquatic invasive species, and replenish via hatchery production, if necessary, which it looks to be.
This pathway is supported heavily by science and proven by highly successful localized salmon recovery projects. It's just a question of coming up with the additional pile of funding that we desperately need, if we have any hope of meaningful recovery.
Thank you, Mr. Johns.