Summary:
- The article examines the physiological stress and high mortality rates of wild Coho salmon when captured and released in marine recreational fisheries.
- It highlights the scientific challenges of "catch-and-release" mortality, emphasizing that even when fish appear to swim away, internal trauma and physiological exhaustion often lead to delayed death.
- The text advocates for evidence-based management strategies, such as gear modifications and fishery closures during peak stress periods, to ensure the conservation of threatened salmon populations.