Another ethics thread.. this time salmon

I grew up eating whatever was legal to keep (except carp), adipose fin or not. I even ate largemouth bass often, well before it became a glamorous gamefish for tournament fishermen. As long as it is legal to do, I will continue, although I seriously distrust anything that comes out of the mouths of anyone from PETA, Packard Foundation, and Humane Society of the United States.

I guess this is a dumb question, but what is the practical difference between wild and hatchery salmon? Aren't hatchery fish just spawned differently than wild? Same genes, same migration, same ... 

Given the opportunity, wouldn't a hatchery salmon spawn naturally in the river it was released in?

Ben

Hatchery fish are known to be inferior in terms of survival instincts and they are a liability regarding the spread of disease.  Their presence in a watershed with wild fish is considered by most to be detrimental to the sustainability of the wild population.

From what I've heard, they are now clipping approx 25% of the hatchery-spawned chinook. And they're supposedly only clipped to easily ID the fish that have tags and/or wires. So 75% of the hatchery fish will look exactly like wild fish = no way to differentiate.
Interestingly enough, I just read a conversation about the large % of clipped fish that guys are catching in Mbay right now. The inexact # is like 1/3 of the fish caught have been clipped---compared to years' past where only like 1/8 were clipped.

i hate Salmon as much as IhateCRAB!  unless they come smoked and in little pieces,,,,i won't be fishing for them AT ALL!

I have watched this thread closely.....any more crazy talk like this and I'll have to regulate 

i hate Salmon as much as IhateCRAB!  unless they come smoked and in little pieces,,,,i won't be fishing for them AT ALL!

I have watched this thread closely.....any more crazy talk like this and I'll have to regulate