It is becoming clear what the plan is with the environmental groups. A few statement from various articles:
"Lindsay Kolb, the straitwatch south co-ordinator for the Cetus Research and Conservation Society in Victoria, said that the lack of abundant Chinook salmon was a major reason for the population decline of the endangered whales."
The Centre for Whale Research statement “clearly shows that survival rates are closely tied to Chinook salmon abundance,” and recovery of the endangered whales isn’t possible without an increase in their prey."
"Where we are now with this population is that we're really into the 11th hour,” said Misty MacDuffee, wild salmon program director with Raincoast Conservation Foundation. “From salmon alone we could halt the decline."Mysty MacDuffee says it’s not solely about the declining Chinook stocks, but also how those stocks are being harvested."What if we changed the way we fish Chinook salmon?” said MacDuffee. “What if we stop fishing them in the marine environment and only fish them once they reach the rivers?"