Possibility of ocean salmon fishing being closed this year.

[Blacktail Sniper]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/mar1416a/



Fishery managers consider closing ocean salmon
seasons due to projected poor coho returns


OLYMPIA – Poor forecasts for returning coho salmon are prompting state and tribal fishery managers to consider closing all salmon fisheries in Washington’s ocean waters this year as part of a federal season-setting process for the west coast.

State, tribal and federal fishery managers have developed three options for non-treaty ocean salmon fisheries that reflect the anticipated low coho returns. Two options would permit some salmon fishing this year, but one would close recreational and commercial ocean fisheries for chinook and coho salmon.

Those alternatives were approved Sunday for public review by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), which establishes fishing seasons in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast. A public hearing on the three alternatives for ocean salmon fisheries is scheduled for March 28 in Westport.

Jim Unsworth, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said he hopes fishery managers can provide some ocean salmon fishing opportunities this year, but must place a higher priority on protecting the diminished number of wild coho expected to return this year.

“Fishery managers face many difficult decisions in the weeks ahead as we move toward solidifying salmon-fishing seasons for the state,” Unsworth said. “We know that severely limiting opportunities will hurt many families and communities that depend on these fisheries. But conserving wild salmon is our top priority and is in the best interest of future generations of Washingtonians.”

Lorraine Loomis, chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, said tribal and state co-managers must have a full range of options – including no fishing at all – in working to shape possible fisheries over the next month.

“We hope it doesn’t come to that. Our cultures, treaty rights and economies depend on salmon. But the resource must come first,” she said. “We face an extraordinary conservation challenge this year. In many instances returns will likely be far below minimum levels needed to produce the next generation of salmon. Conservation must be our sole focus as we work to rebuild these stocks.”

Chinook and coho quotas approved by the PFMC will be part of a comprehensive 2016 salmon fishing package, which includes marine and freshwater fisheries throughout Puget Sound, the Columbia River and Washington's coastal areas. State and tribal co-managers are currently developing those fisheries, which will be finalized at the PFMC’s April meeting in Vancouver, Wash.

The non-treaty recreational fishing alternatives include the following quotas for fisheries off the Washington coast:

Alternative 1: 58,600 chinook and 37,800 coho. This option includes early season fisheries, from June 18-30, for hatchery chinook in Washington’s ocean waters (marine areas 1-4). This option also allows hatchery coho retention in all four marine areas during the traditional summer fishery.
Alternative 2:  30,000 chinook and 14,700 coho. This option does not include early season fisheries for hatchery chinook, but provides summer chinook fisheries in all four marine areas. Hatchery coho fishing would be allowed only in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco).
Alternative 3: No commercial or recreational salmon fisheries in Washington’s ocean waters.
For more details about the options, visit the PFMC webpage at http://www.pcouncil.org/. Last year, the PFMC adopted recreational ocean fishing quotas of 64,000 chinook and 150,800 coho salmon.

This year, forecasters expect 380,000 Columbia River hatchery coho to return to the Washington coast, which is about half of last year’s forecast. Only 242,000 coho actually returned last year to the Columbia River, where some coho stocks are listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Poor ocean conditions, such as the Pacific Ocean “blob” and warmer water temperatures, contributed to last year’s lower than expected return of coho.

Meanwhile, a robust return of Columbia River fall chinook salmon is expected back this year, including about 223,000 lower river hatchery fish, which traditionally have been the backbone of the recreational ocean chinook fishery.

In addition to the March 28 public hearing, several other meetings will take place later this month and in early April to discuss regional fisheries issues. The public can comment on the proposed ocean alternatives as well as on other proposed salmon fisheries through WDFW's North of Falcon webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/

A schedule of public meetings, as well as salmon run-size forecasts and more information about the salmon-season setting process can also be found on the webpage.

[bearpaw]

Sorry to hear. With hatcheries being shut down by the greenies we better get used to decreased salmon fishing opportunities!

[JimmyHoffa]

I'm guessing the big fleet will still keep the grocers and markets full though. 

[WSU]

See you at Astoria!

[Special T]

I was happy to learn that they are stacking cormorants like cord wood on  the Columbia, perhaps their next best investment in time will be the sea lions!

[C-Money]

I was happy to learn that they are stacking cormorants like cord wood on  the Columbia, perhaps their next best investment in time will be the sea lions!

Really? Thats awesome! 

[Dhoey07]

Shut it down......for everyone. 

[heronblu]

Market hunting was outlawed in the us in 1918 and yet we still treat the ocean like this unending supply of fish and resources. I've never understood this paradox. Why should sportsmen and women suffer because of the poor regulation of commercial fisheries? If they shut it down it should be for everyone or at least for commercial fishing first and then as a last resort the people fishing to put food in the freezer.

[sirmissalot]

Shut it down......for everyone.

If it includes everyone, I completely agree.

[Dhoey07]

Shut it down......for everyone.

If it includes everyone, I completely agree.

Yes, EVERYONE.  Regardless of color, creed or occupation. 

[JimmyHoffa]

What would be the consequences of closing the season?  I doubt people are going to just sit at home.  Uptick in trout fishing?  More people fishing in Canada and Alaska--catching their Washington fish anyways  ?  More crabbing? They trimmed back halibut this year, so that won't really fill the gap.
I kind of remember back when WDFW started trimming steelhead seasons/rivers/plants that people just went to what was left open, now the steelhead on the coast are pounded worse than ever and new rules are coming Jul 1.

[lokidog]

Market hunting was outlawed in the us in 1918 and yet we still treat the ocean like this unending supply of fish and resources. I've never understood this paradox. Why should sportsmen and women suffer because of the poor regulation of commercial fisheries? If they shut it down it should be for everyone or at least for commercial fishing first and then as a last resort the people fishing to put food in the freezer.

 

[Encore 280]

Seems like a few years ago there was news that a hatchery lost hundreds of thousands fingerlings due to some failure and it's happened before but we don't see any mention of that. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

[WSU]

Seems like a few years ago there was news that a hatchery lost hundreds of thousands fingerlings due to some failure and it's happened before but we don't see any mention of that. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

That's not uncommon at all and happens for a variety of reasons.

[Antlershed]

Shut it down......for everyone.

If it includes everyone, I completely agree.

It will never include everyone...

[WSU]

From what I understand, the tribes are pushing no ocean fishing and including themselves.  I certainly won't include Alaska and therefore Canada.  I'll get the scoop on what the tribes are up to.

[NRA4LIFE]

Probably more deer scouting in my future.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

From what I understand, the tribes are pushing no ocean fishing and including themselves.  I certainly won't include Alaska and therefore Canada.  I'll get the scoop on what the tribes are up to.

The tribes do most of their fishing in river not in the ocean.

[WSU]

From what I understand, the tribes are pushing no ocean fishing and including themselves.  I certainly won't include Alaska and therefore Canada.  I'll get the scoop on what the tribes are up to.

The tribes do most of their fishing in river not in the ocean.

True, depending on the tribe.  The Makahs especially like to low-hole everyone.

[Dhoey07]

Why ESA listed fish are exploited for commercial use is beyond me 

[JimmyHoffa]

One of the bios that has been doing the predictions for over thirty years says the return should be bigger than last few years but fish size should be a little smaller.

[WSU]

One of the bios that has been doing the predictions for over thirty years says the return should be bigger than last few years but fish size should be a little smaller.

Which bio was that?

[Antlershed]

From what I understand, the tribes are pushing no ocean fishing and including themselves.  I certainly won't include Alaska and therefore Canada.  I'll get the scoop on what the tribes are up to.

Kinda like how they included themselves in the Chehalis Basin closure last year, but then started netting for Steelhead in November and were killing a bunch of Coho as "incidental by-catch"...

[WSU]

From what I understand, the tribes are pushing no ocean fishing and including themselves.  I certainly won't include Alaska and therefore Canada.  I'll get the scoop on what the tribes are up to.

Kinda like how they included themselves in the Chehalis Basin closure last year, but then started netting for Steelhead in November and were killing a bunch of Coho as "incidental by-catch"...

Not the same.  Last year they (meaning Quinaults) were screaming at WDFW to keep the nets in so they weren't the only ones netting.  They only claimed to shut it down after they fished and after WDFW took the lead in shutting it down. 

Don't get me wrong.  I am not delusional enough to take things at face value.

[WSU]

From what I understand, the tribes are pushing no ocean fishing and including themselves.  I certainly won't include Alaska and therefore Canada.  I'll get the scoop on what the tribes are up to.

Kinda like how they included themselves in the Chehalis Basin closure last year, but then started netting for Steelhead in November and were killing a bunch of Coho as "incidental by-catch"...

Also, as a side note, that "steelhead" season has caused the demise of the late, large coho and needs to stop immediately.  It's a complete farce and everyone knows it.

[Antlershed]

From what I understand, the tribes are pushing no ocean fishing and including themselves.  I certainly won't include Alaska and therefore Canada.  I'll get the scoop on what the tribes are up to.

Kinda like how they included themselves in the Chehalis Basin closure last year, but then started netting for Steelhead in November and were killing a bunch of Coho as "incidental by-catch"...

Also, as a side note, that "steelhead" season has caused the demise of the late, large coho and needs to stop immediately.  It's a complete farce and everyone knows it.

Agreed 100%

[Mfowl]

King 5 News just had a story on this issue. I only caught a portion but it was enough to feel like they suggested the tribes are pushing the closure and the sports fishing industry is against it. I am gonna try to catch it again later to see the whole story, I missed the beginning.

[2labs]

Closed for who? Oh, that's right! Never mind! The Boltd desicion! Got ya!

[Stein]

After last year, I had pretty low expectations.  We just planned a springer trip to put a few in the freezer.

[elkfins]

To make it clear, the full salmon closure was introduced by our co managers and is for non native sport fishing only.  If you look at the 2 links below, you don't see closed in the tribal options.

Table outlining sport options:
http://www.pcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DRAFT_Council_adopted_Table_2_Rec_Alts_2016.pdf

Table outlining tribal options:
http://www.pcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DRAFT_Council_adopted_Table_3_Tribal__Alts.pdf
 

[Duckslayer89]

Look up commercial trawling. Ships that are huge, dragging giant sock nets killing everything in their paths so McDonald's can sell fish sandwiches and fish sticks. They catch crazy amounts of salmon and dump them overboard. These guys make all other fisheries look like saints.

Funny in Alaska, natives don't have any special fishing or hunting rights. The only thing they get extra is sea mammal rights.

[lokidog]

From what I understand, the tribes are pushing no ocean fishing and including themselves.  I certainly won't include Alaska and therefore Canada.  I'll get the scoop on what the tribes are up to.

More fish for them in the rivers....

[WAPatriot]

F the tribes I am so sick of this BS. It's suppose to be a 50 50 split which is already ridiculous. But the entitled greedy tribes want more. Look at lake Washington sockeye. Sport fisherman haven't had a season in a decade yet the tribes net the crap out of them every year. Nets in front of the fish ladder.  It pisses me off the most is that they don't even net the fish right after the fish ladder so at least we could have an accurate split and count of the fish. It's deliberate. Then they get our media to blame anything under the sun except the Indians. It's walleye its global warming it's people in Alaska catching the sockeye give me a break.


Oh yeah a barbless hook fishery where only certain fish may be retained causes more damages/impacts than indiscriminately killing everything that swims towards its spawning grounds. It's a joke.

[WAPatriot]

The tribes don't get this kind of power in any other state only Washington.

[Bango skank]

Im goingbto write wdfw and explain to them that i identify as a native, and any discrimination or persecution i face from them will result in lawsuits costing them money and exposing them as a racist organization.

[WAPatriot]

Boldt decision needs to go it's racist.

[WAPatriot]

Im goingbto write wdfw and explain to them that i identify as a native, and any discrimination or persecution i face from them will result in lawsuits costing them money and exposing them as a racist organization.

Great idea I know some rich guys that fish out of Westport who might be able to help if they take away ocean fishing.

[JLS]

The tribes don't get this kind of power in any other state only Washington.

You might want to study up on your tribal treaties and the history behind them.

[WAPatriot]

The tribes don't get this kind of power in any other state only Washington.

You might want to study up on your tribal treaties and the history behind them.

Look at South Carolina they tell the tribes to piss off.

[fish vacuum]

If the coho runs are as bad as predicted, I don't see it being worth the time for tribal or nontribal commercials to target them. Predictions are for a small fraction of normal.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

[Duckslayer89]

I don't understand why they need more money when their casinos are raking in millions of untaxed money. When does it all end? Half the "Indians" are white guys with like 1/8th native. Pretty sure I have that in me I just can't prove it.

[Forks]

It sounds like we will be able to go after Chinook so far. The council is meeting in Canada this week.