Most scientific evidence points to a major decrease in smolt-to-adult survival, which occurs in the migration corridor and in ocean and estuary habitat, he said.

CNN: Dam removal: Too little, too late for salmon?

According to Bosse, there is scant proof that egg-to-smolt survival, which occurs during the first year of life, has decreased since the four lower Snake River dams were constructed.

CNN: Dam removal: Too little, too late for salmon?

That is the smolt-to-adult stage of salmon life.

CNN: Dam removal: Too little, too late for salmon?

Green MSP Robin Harper's amendment, which urged the government to phase out the rearing of smolt or juvenile fish in freshwater open net-pens, fell, with two MSPs voting for it and 114 voting against it.

BBC: Decision time