Gillnetters suit moves to Olympia

[Bullkllr]

Gillnetters' suit moves to Olympia

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Olympia this week became the battleground in commercial fishermen's efforts to stop a plan to move gillnetters off the lower Columbia River's mainstem.
Last fall, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber proposed the plan that also, among other things, gives recreational anglers priority in salmon allocations. The fish and wildlife commissions of Oregon and Washington have adopted the plan, and gillnetters have filed court action in both states to challenge implementation of the plan.
Washington gillnetters originially filed their action in Wahkiakum County earlier this month but found they had to move the case to Thurston County in order to file suit against the state.
The plaintiffs say that the Washington commission exceeded its authority by adopting the rules because it conflicts with the commission’s mandate to “maintain a stable fishing industry in the state.” Plaintiffs say they will suffer irreparable economic harm if forced to move to the side channels.

Wahkiakum County commissioners this week joined the fray by voting to send a letter to the state fish and wildlife commission to support the gillnetters position.
Commissioners also noted that the appointments of three fish and wildlife commission members--Miranda Wecker, Gary Douvia and Chuck Perry--have expired. They voted to send a letter to Governor Jay Inslee to nominate Wahkiakum residents Bill Faubion, Lisa Marsyla and Lori Scott. Faubion, the county's district court judge, is an active sportsman; Marsyla is a former county commissioner who has been involved in the fishing industry, and Scott is a member of the board of commissioners of Port District No. 2.
http://www.waheagle.com/news/article.exm/2013-03-28_gillnetters__suit_moves_to_olympia

[Curly]

Oh yeah, that  is a great idea.  Try to get rid of Gary Dovia.....   One commissioner who helped prevent WDFW from making the wolf plan even worse.

The plaintiffs say that the Washington commission exceeded its authority by adopting the rules because it conflicts with the commission’s mandate to “maintain a stable fishing industry in the state.” Plaintiffs say they will suffer irreparable economic harm if forced to move to the side channels.

I say the commission is trying to "maintain a stable fishing industry" by removing gillnets.  We can't have a fishing industry if there are no fish to be caught.

[LeeMajors]

The person that needs to leave the board is Jennings.

[Mfowl]

I sure hope the netters get the BOOT!   

[WSU]

They are going to have a tough time.  The legislature revised the applicable RCW a couple years ago to remove "commercial" from the phrase "stable fishing industry" specifically to allow WDFW to take into account how much more money the state makes on sport fishing.  The crabbers made the same argument in puget sound when sporties were given a higher share of the catch.  They lost (although it is on appeal).

[npaull]

I could be mistaken but I'm pretty sure the commercial fishery there loses money except for govt subsidies- pretty ridiculous. Of course, the whole thing is a little moot with the dams - so much bigger a problem. It's really tragic. The historic Columbia River salmon runs arguably deserve a place on the top 10 greatest natural resources of all time list.

[LeeMajors]

I know this is a little off topic, but I don't understand why the dams couldn't be replaced with those turbines they use in New York.

http://verdantpower.com/what-systemsint/

[Curly]

I know this is a little off topic, but I don't understand why the dams couldn't be replaced with those turbines they use in New York.

http://verdantpower.com/what-systemsint/

The purpose of those dams aren't just for power.  They do provide for flood control and for shipping.  Breaching the Columbia River dams really isn't an option.