WDFW and ODFW to undo the Columbia R gillnet reforms?

[Antlershed]

Just saw this posted on the CCA-Oregon Facebook page. Looks like we’re gonna get screwed.

Today, a joint-state committee of Oregon and Washington fish and wildlife commissioners voted 4-2 to recommend a return to non-tribal gillnetting in the lower mainstem Columbia River during the spring and summer seasons and an increase in mainstem gillnetting during the fall season.

The recommendation to undo the 2012 bi-state Columbia River gillnet reforms comes as Columbia River salmon and steelhead returns have plummeted in recent years – leading to recreational fishing closures throughout the Columbia River basin. The vote also comes at the same time WDFW and ODFW are asking their respective legislatures to reauthorize the Columbia River Basin Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement paid for by recreational anglers.  WDFW is also seeking a recreational license fee increase.

The recommendation will now go to each state’s fish and wildlife commission, which would have to modify their policies/rules to reverse the Columbia River reforms, return gillnets to the mainstem, and reduce recreational fishing opportunity.

The Washington Commission will be meeting in Spokane on March 1-2 where we expect Washington Commissioner Don McIsaac (Hockinson) to push for their adoption – hundreds of miles away from most of the fisheries affected by the decision.  The recommendation would also make barbless hooks “voluntary” in Columbia River recreational fisheries – a clear effort to distract anglers from the vote to undo the bi-state fishery reforms and harm our fisheries.

With the 2019 spring chinook run projected to be below 50% of the ten-year average, and summer chinook forecasted to barely meet escapment, a non-tribal gill net fishery on the lower mainstem Columbia River would be extraordinarily reckless. The fall chinook forecast is equally poor, and with record low returns of wild steelhead over the past two years, mainstem gillnetting could further erode many struggling ESA-listed stocks. 

CCA will be sending out more details and action alerts shortly, so stay turned for more updates. The votes were as follows:

Yes – McIsaac (WA), Kehoe (WA), Buckmaster (OR), Akenson (OR)
No – Graybill (WA), Webber (OR)

[jeffitz]

What. a. Freaking. Disaster.

[branches]

Thank you for posting this. I think this new is LAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Columbia should be for recreational fisherman always. 

[ASHQUACK]

 So, should I be expecting a refund from WDFW for the Columbia River Enhancement I've had to pay since it's inception?

[NorseNW]

Glad this came up in a timely fashion.  Tried to purchase new licenses this weekend for the family but their website was down.  I would have purchased Columbia River endorsements.  Saved me some money now I won't be purchasing the endorsement. 

Amazing that this is the only river in the World that is still commercially netted.

[X-Force]

Doesn’t make any sense. It will probably be turned by FW... or someone will sue on behalf of ESA fish

[MtnMuley]

In my opinion, if their nets should be pulled out, then all nets need to be pulled out. 

[Mtnwalker]

Side note- dude from OR lucked out with a saweeet last name! Buckmaster 

[huntnphool]

 Is this a result of some WSU study suggesting that the reason our returns are so poor is because we stopped commercial netting, and that the more we net, the higher our numbers of return will be?

[Antlershed]

In my opinion, if their nets should be pulled out, then all nets need to be pulled out. 

I agree that all gillnets should be banned, and SB 5617 could have potentially accomplished that had it not been amended before it was passed out of committee. However, we have been fishing with barbless hooks on the Columbia as a concession ever since the Columbia River plan was agreed to, as well as Oregonians have been paying a CR endorsement that was designed to be used to get the gill nets off the CR (our CR endorsement came long before the CR Gillnet Reform).

[Skyvalhunter]

Would be tough to cut only a small group from gill netting if you didn't cut all if you want recovery

[Stein]

I love WDFW, always on the right side of science and conservation.

Sure, we would love to pay more to get shut out.

The only answer is to cut their funding.  Please consider what you buy from them this year.


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[Sitka_Blacktail]

Amazing that this is the only river in the World that is still commercially netted.

Wrong...... Chehalis River still commercially netted, Willapa River, still commercially netted, Yukon River, still commercially netted, Deep River, still commercially netted, Fraser River, still commercially netted, Youngs Bay still commercially netted. Naknek River still commercially netted. Copper River, still commercially netted. Kuskokwim River, still commercially netted.

[Mfowl]

     F WDFW!

[Badhabit]

That's some crazy talk right there. Would the non-Tribal gillnetting season coincide with the Tribal gillnetting season? Once quotas are reached then all nets come out? Personally, I would rather see an escapement quota reached for each run and then allow gillnetting.