Surveys were mailed to more than 800 coastal residents and 195 leaders. There is strong support for compensating private landowners for protecting and restoring salmon. In general, federal fish and wildlife agencies and the OSU Extension Service fared better than environmental groups and city and county planners, which were rated higher than federal courts or Congress. The distance between public and professional opinion was clear in response to a question which asked the relative importance of certain factors for the future of salmon. While most professionals would argue that reducing predators like seals and sea lions, increasing hatchery production, and eliminating ocean driftnets fall decidedly on the less important end of the scale, the public thinks that reducing marine mammals and stopping ocean driftnetting are very important, said Smith.
Opinions are also opposite regarding hatcheries.
While nearly all salmon biologists argue now that hatchery production should be decreased and changed to avoid harming wild fish runs, only 20 percent of respondents agree. They see hatcheries as at least part of the solution. In reviewing the 500 responses, Smith and Gilden wanted to see if there was any factor that would help leaders of salmon restoration understand what would motivate coastal people to restore the salmon. They examined variables like age, income, and education but found that the most critical factors in shaping people's opinions about salmon were their values and beliefs. A key question noted that trade-offs between the environment and the economy could be involved in salmon restoration and asked respondents to place themselves on a scale from favoring the environment to favoring economic considerations.