Sturgeon Regs and Confusion

[Gringo31]

I'm trying to figure this out and while I thought I understood, apparently am mistaken.

I was under the assumption that the tribes got 50% and recreation got 50%.  After some research this morning I'm lost and maybe someone could help me out to understand.  Here are a few cut and paste jobs...

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/crc/2017/crc_jan31_2017_fact.pdf

Zone 6 Sturgeon
Each year, a stock assessment is conducted in one of the Zone 6 reservoirs. In 2016, the John
Day reservoir was assessed which indicated a decline in the total, as well as the legal sized
sturgeon abundance. While the over-legal size category remains very strong, modeling indicates
future declines in the legal sized category in the next few years and eventual declines in the overlegal sized group.

Zone 6 Sturgeon
 The Sturgeon Management Task Force (SMTF) met on January 25 to discuss and develop
management recommendations for 2017 white sturgeon fisheries in Bonneville, The Dalles,
and John Day pools, including potential modifications to harvest guidelines based on updated
population assessments. The SMTF did not modify harvest guidelines for Bonneville (325
each for treaty and recreational) and The Dalles (325 for treaty and 100 for recreational)
pools but did recommended new harvest guidelines for the John Day Pool for the next three
years as follows:
2017: 400 total including 295 treaty commercial and 105 recreational
2018: 315 total including 210 treaty commercial and 105 recreational
2019: 280 total including 175 treaty commercial and 105 recreational

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/crc/2017/crc_feb07_2017_fact.pdf

TREATY INDIAN FISHERIES
 The preliminary Zone 6 treaty commercial sturgeon harvests and commercial guidelines are
shown in the table below.
Pool Slot Limit
(inches, fork
length)
January
Setline
Winter
Gillnet
Total Commercial
Harvest
Guideline
Remaining
Bonneville 38-54 0 0 0 325 325
The Dalles 43-54 0 4 4 325 321
John Day 43-54 0 27 27 295 268
Total 0 31 31 945 914
 There was a setline fishery open in all three pools in January but no harvest has been
reported. The winter gillnet fishery has harvested a total of 31 fish through Monday. No
other species have been reported harvested to date. The fishery in the John Day Pool is
currently scheduled to close today at 6:00 PM (Tuesday February 7), and the fishery in The
Dalles Pool is scheduled to close later, 6:00 PM Saturday February 18.
 The sturgeon catch per day is within typical ranges for this time of year. Catch rates
generally increase as the season progresses. Assuming catch rates increase next week to the
maximum observed during this time period, tribal staff project the fisheries in the John Day
and The Dalles pools will still be within their commercial harvest guidelines by February
18.
 As a precautionary measure, tribal staff recommend extending the fishery in the John Day
pool until February 15, and then re-evaluating additional openings or extensions of the
sturgeon treaty commercial fisheries once the updated catch numbers have been
considered.
 All four tribes agreed to the extension of the commercial fisheries as presented on page 2.
2
2017 Treaty Indian Zone 6 Commercial Gillnet Fishery
Dates/Time: Extend the ongoing fishery through 6:00 PM Wednesday February 15.
Area: John Day Pool only
Gear: Gillnets with no mesh restriction.
Allowable
Sales:
Sturgeon from 43 to 54 inches fork length, Salmon (any species), steelhead, shad,
carp, catfish, walleye, bass, and yellow perch may be sold or retained for subsistence.
Sales of fish are allowed after the fishing period as long as they were landed during
the open period.
Sanctuaries: River mouth and dam closed areas applicable to gillnets in effect.
Miscellaneous: Quick reporting required for all Washington Fish Buyers pursuant to WAC 220-69-
240.14(d), and landings must be quick reported within 24-hours of completing the fish
ticket.
 The current regulations for the Zone 6 platform and hook and line fisheries do not require
modification at this time.
 There is no specific guideline for treaty subsistence harvest of sturgeon, but these fish are
accounted for.
 Tribal fishery monitors will monitor fisheries and assist in collection of biological data.
 State and tribal staff will work cooperatively to report harvest on a regular basis.
 Sturgeon fisheries will be closed earlier if harvest guidelines for that pool are met before
the scheduled end dates.
 The tribes also expect to set an opening for the Bonneville Pool fishery after the fisheries in
the upper pools are concluded.
 The tribes request another Compact to be scheduled in the late afternoon on February 14th
after the tribes have updated their plans for this fishery.

Help in understanding this mess?

[cohoho]

Bonneville use to produce alot of fun and large fish, but all that is caught now days are nets marked 35" fish....  Hmmmmmm, no sea lions to blame, well maybe a few here and there...  Hmmmmmm