WDFW Discussion/vote

[Blacklab]

Just found out that WDFW is having a vote on Main Columbia River. Having the commercial gillnetters back on the water. CCA has a document that I don’t know how to post to prohibit Of course they are

WDFW is set to undermine gillnet reforms and the legislatively approved $14.4M buyback, by approving the first spring Chinook gillnet fishery since 2016.

At 2PM tomorrow (Wednesday, May 18), the Columbia River Compact will meet to discuss the possibility of approving a small mesh gillnet fishery for spring Chinook – the first since 2016.

Please take just a moment to send a pre-drafted email to WDFW Director Kelly Susewind letting him know you oppose this irresponsible decision. Then forward this email to all your friends and ask them to take action as well

[HntnFsh]

It's posted over on Ifish. I already replied!

[Blacklab]

Outstanding thank you for the update

[Skyvalhunter]

Great news thanks for the update.

[Slamadoo]

Why should we oppose this? What are the arguments for and against?

[X-Force]

All gill nets should be out of our rivers. I wish they would just outlaw them, their are a lot of ways to harvest fish and reduce bycatch.

[Slamadoo]

Is this a recreational or commercial gill net fishery?

[X-Force]

Is this a recreational or commercial gill net fishery?

Commercial

[huntnnw]

Why should we oppose this? What are the arguments for and against?

why would you want it? the days of netting anything need to end! complete BS! you want seafood and fish go catch it

[Skyvalhunter]

Tell that to the native americans

[HntnFsh]

Why should we oppose this? What are the arguments for and against?

Heres the response from CCA.

WDFW is Poised to Undermine Legislative Direction on Gillnet Reforms
WDFW is set to undermine gillnet reforms and the legislatively approved $14.4M buyback, by approving the first spring Chinook gillnet fishery since 2016.
At 2PM tomorrow (Wednesday, May 18), the Columbia River Compact will meet to discuss the possibility of approving a small mesh gillnet fishery for spring Chinook – the first since 2016.

Please take just a moment to send a pre-drafted email to WDFW Director Kelly Susewind letting him know you oppose this irresponsible decision. Then forward this email to all your friends and ask them to take action as well.

Also, check back at noon tomorrow for the call-in details for the Compact meeting, so you can provide public comment by voicing your strong opposition to the decision to return non-tribal gillnets to the mainstem Columbia River for spring Chinook.  The details for the 2PM compact call will be posted on CCA Oregon’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CCAOregon

CCA Washington will continue working with the Legislature and Governor Inslee to hold WDFW accountable for their failing management decisions, but they must also hear from you!

Compose Your Message
Kelly Susewind (+)
Subject
I oppose mainstem non-tribal spring chinook small mesh gillnet fishery
Message Body
Please add your own story about this issue to personalize your message
I strongly oppose the proposal to return non-tribal small mesh gillnets to the mainstem Columbia River for a spring Chinook fishery - the first since 2016. This decision would negatively impact conservation and recreational fisheries.

Additionally, WDFW would be ignoring the direction of the Legislature and Governor Inslee with their $14.4 million voluntary buyback of non-tribal Columbia River gillnet licenses. A primary goal of this legislations is to transition away from gillnets in mainstem commercial fisheries.

WDFW is turning back the clock and reversing five years of progress to improve the management of Columbia River fisheries.  I urge you to reject this proposal and instead focus WDFW's efforts on an effective implementation of the bipartisan voluntary gillnet buyback to properly address this highly contentious fishing gear.
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[HntnFsh]

Pretty sure that money was raised fron sportsmans dollars raised through the fee we paid for several years for the Columbia river endorsement.

[Tbar]

All gill nets should be out of our rivers. I wish they would just outlaw them, their are a lot of ways to harvest fish and reduce bycatch.

Have you been on a gillnet fishery? Or just like to ban things based off of an emotional biased argument? Care to get scientific? Or do you just do that when your interests are priorities? Not saying there's not bycatch by gillnets or that Shooting bears in the spring doesn't orphan (bycatch), just saying that responsible management can occur using multiple tools. 

[syoungs]

All gill nets should be out of our rivers. I wish they would just outlaw them, their are a lot of ways to harvest fish and reduce bycatch.

just saying that responsible management can occur using multiple tools.

Not when the WDFW is involved...

[Houndhunter]

I'm ok with regulated commercial fishing on the Columbia, if it's sustainable I say let them do it. What I'm not ok with is a certain group that can net unregulated and string those gill nets 3/4 across on smaller rivers.

[Blacklab]

I believe there’s like seven endangered species on the Columbia River. Now you put those Grim Reaper nets in and it kills everything that goes into them. Why are we putting money into saving a fishery and then allowing the gill nets destroy what were trying to restore. They should’ve bought the selective nets like they were supposed to 3-4 years ago. Just another government act or position of shoveling *censored* against the tide. Pretending they’re here to help

[Blacklab]

👍

[Tbar]

I believe there’s like seven endangered species on the Columbia River. Now you put those Grim Reaper nets in and it kills everything that goes into them. Why are we putting money into saving a fishery and then allowing the gill nets destroy what were trying to restore. They should’ve bought the selective nets like they were supposed to 3-4 years ago. Just another government act or position of shoveling *censored* against the tide. Pretending they’re here to help

Have you seen mortality assessments of Mark select? Have you been gillnetting? You seem to know your stuff. Any references to validate your strong opinions?

[trophyhunt]

I know we disagree a lot Tbar, but are you saying gill netting is a good thing?  My vision of gill netting is on the Puyallup, fish have to swim in an S to make it around the nets??

[HntnFsh]

Tbar  have you seen many fish survive getting caught in a gill net?

[Tbar]

Tbar  have you seen many fish survive getting caught in a gill net?

Actually yes.  Big fish seldom catch in small mesh and small fish squirt through big mesh.  It's not nearly as grim as portrayed. In addition to that in a catch and kill fishery accounting is very accurate.  We have enforcement and biologist on the fishing grounds.  It's not to at there isn't bycatch, there is! I would also say time is very limited when we fish so even with high catch% It's limited both hours and potential encounters with imperiled stocks.  When numbers get close to conservative impacts, it's shut down, to the minute.  Everything is imperfect but it's counterproductive to cast stones when we all want to fish. Mark select has impact as well, especially when you factor in post catch mortality via predation. We have bigger issues like predators and intercept but we choose to infight.

[Blacklab]

Sure we all want more fish. One way is to produce more. Another way is to keep the gillnets off to Columbia River

[X-Force]

There is enough information out there that provide more sustainable, better quality market fish than gill nets.

Have I personally witnessed bycatch? No, but do I know that bycatch occurred because of season and size of catch overlaps? Yes.
I have I seen delinquent nets left in high water and the subsequent wastage of fish that resulted. And the litter of the same nets that are strung in root balls and sweepers.

I agree that appropriate tools should be used in the management of fish. Gill nets are an antiquated use of tools for current management.

[Tbar]

Sure we all want more fish. One way is to produce more. Another way is to keep the gillnets off to Columbia River

And create a false carrying capacity for predators? Which is evident by the now resident populations that were migratory in the past, correct?

[Blacklab]

Yes sir the sea lions aren’t doing us any favors. They need to be removed from the river. But they got cute little brown eyes. If they looked like alligators and crocodiles we wouldn’t be having that problem. 

[Tbar]

There is enough information out there that provide more sustainable, better quality market fish than gill nets.

Have I personally witnessed bycatch? No, but do I know that bycatch occurred because of season and size of catch overlaps? Yes.
I have I seen delinquent nets left in high water and the subsequent wastage of fish that resulted. And the litter of the same nets that are strung in root balls and sweepers.

I agree that appropriate tools should be used in the management of fish. Gill nets are an antiquated use of tools for current management.

You sound a lot like the commissioners you were kissing up to.  (Smith, Rowland, Ragan and Lemkuhl). How'd that work out for you?  You are nearly lock step with Smith. Hmmm

[X-Force]

There is enough information out there that provide more sustainable, better quality market fish than gill nets.

Have I personally witnessed bycatch? No, but do I know that bycatch occurred because of season and size of catch overlaps? Yes.
I have I seen delinquent nets left in high water and the subsequent wastage of fish that resulted. And the litter of the same nets that are strung in root balls and sweepers.

I agree that appropriate tools should be used in the management of fish. Gill nets are an antiquated use of tools for current management.

You sound a lot like the commissioners you were kissing up to.  (Smith, Rowland, Ragan and Lemkuhl). How'd that work out for you?  You are nearly lock step with Smith. Hmmm

 

Smith and I are big fans of each other for sure.

Tbar why are you making an emotional argument when you were accusing me of the same.

If removing gill nets ends up decreasing fish per hour fished but eliminates or nearly eliminates bycatch fatalities it’s a win. I don’t believe that removing gill nets will negatively impact total target harvest.

[Tbar]

Your rhetoric is identical to hers.  Not emotional just a fact.  And Solomons and van deWege, it's the company you keep. 
You got on here with a holier than though unity plea and then kissed up to the very commissioners that will take what you have and want to pass down. 

[Tbar]

There are other sides to the Columbia fishery that resonate with me far beyond gillnets. Listen to people like Irene Martin, who has had a rural blue collar way of life attacked and taken in the name of ecotourism. She represents the gillnets but believes the war is one of division.  Exactly what's occurring here and other places. If you do not know of her, do a little research, we are on opposite ends of a spectrum but see overlaps and big pictures.

[X-Force]

There are other sides to the Columbia fishery that resonate with me far beyond gillnets. Listen to people like Irene Martin, who has had a rural blue collar way of life attacked and taken in the name of ecotourism. She represents the gillnets but believes the war is one of division.  Exactly what's occurring here and other places. If you do not know of her, do a little research, we are on opposite ends of a spectrum but see overlaps and big pictures.

I’ll be the first to admit gillnetting isn’t the number 1 issues for wild fish stocks on the Columbia. Hydro power, irrigation, pollution, Lord knows what negative impact shad have on the river and in the ocean, etc… those are far bigger issues, however they are also more expensive and difficult to address. Personally, I’m not a big fan of doing something just for appearances. Things we do for fish and wildlife should have a noticeable direct positive impact. Removing gillnets does not remove fishermen, does not remove quota allotments, but does protect bycatch species, especially ESA or potential ESA fish.

How can it be a war of division if the outcome is the same quota with a modified method of take?

Never heard of Irene Martin but I just bought “The story of Columbia River Gillnetters” so I’ll have to read it and get back to you.

[ipkus]

Actually yes.  Big fish seldom catch in small mesh and small fish squirt through big mesh.

I'm not sure where you gillnet, but on the Columbia they catch 3 lb. sockeye and 50 lb. sturgeon while fishing 8" mesh for 17 lb. summer chinook.

They don't encounter any sockeye and sturgeon when they aren't legal to sell, of course.  At least that's what they say.  Scouts honor.

[Blacklab]

Governor sleazy is letting to kill nets all the way up to Bonneville Dam Monday May 23. For a guy that says he’s all about Green energy. Must’ve misspoke and meant Green as in money🤔🤔🤔

[Jake Dogfish]

Growing up on a Puget Sound beach, I’ve seen the destruction of our Salmon runs by gillnets firsthand.
Notice how they wish to rename them “tangle nets” and “large mesh”.  It doesn’t matter what you call them, they are indiscriminate walls of death.
Small fish, large fish, all get caught and killed.  If you leave them out they collect birds as well.
It amazes me that Susewind calls them a “management tool” 
If you were a commercial fisherman, why would you want to use anything else?  The phrase “kill them all and let God sort them out” comes to mind.  The netters like playing God.

[Tbar]

Growing up on a Puget Sound beach, I’ve seen the destruction of our Salmon runs by gillnets firsthand.
Notice how they wish to rename them “tangle nets” and “large mesh”.  It doesn’t matter what you call them, they are indiscriminate walls of death.
Small fish, large fish, all get caught and killed.  If you leave them out they collect birds as well.
It amazes me that Susewind calls them a “management tool” 
If you were a commercial fisherman, why would you want to use anything else?  The phrase “kill them all and let God sort them out” comes to mind.  The netters like playing God.

Which beach did you grow up on? Interesting.

[Stein]

Do they still net at night?  They used to run them nearly shore to shore and drift down the river at night.

Unlike recreational fishermen, they are well organized and seem to make their voices heard well.