Hunting Washington Forum
Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: plugger on January 18, 2016, 06:52:49 AM
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Well, there at it again. Now there going after Columbia river hatcheries. Article in the Spoksman review. They filed a motion to sue. So where will they dump all those hatchery smolts when they cave to there demands. :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: Maybe its time to turn all the hatcheries over to the tribes. Good luck suing them. Find a way to transfer the funding to them.
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Groups like the WFC are our biggest threat when it comes to NW fishing... makes me sick.
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Shanghaied this from another site:
http://wildfishconservancy.org/about/press-room/press-releases/wild-fish-conservancy-files-notice-of-intent-to-sue-nmfs-doc-for-esa-violations-associated-with-mitchell-act-funded-columbia-river-hatcheries
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One of the VERY few things with higher standing in federal law than the Endangered Species Act is treaties. The Mitchell Act hatcheries are critical to providing salmon for tribal harvest, and courts to date have affirmed that the federal treaty obligation includes ensuring an adequate quantity of fish for treaty fishermen in their U&A areas. The WFC may be able to affect HOW the Mitchell Act hatcheries produce fish in the interest of ESA listed species, but I don't believe ESA can undermine the obligation to produce hatchery fish for harvest.
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:yeah:
They would be hard pressed to reduce production rates and about the only real direction they could push things would be modified release practices or timing. The tribes are the Columbia hatcheries best friends right now. It sucks how much carte blanche the tribes have for hunting and fishing, but they know how to protect their treaty rights and any any infringement on them. They are pretty much peeing up a rope here but they will likely cost the public many $$$ in this ridiculous threat of litigation.
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Didn't the state dump all the steelhead smolts for the Puget sound streams for the same reason. They trucked them to the East, put them in rock and sprauge lakes among others? Just the threat of a law suit was all it took.
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They also dumped a huge numbers on the west side. Green lake had a 10 fish limit on them. I can't remember all the lakes but it was a batch.
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IIRC those were all fish intended for non- Columbia rivers and waters not covered by the Mitchell Act. It was also blue to a bunch of spineless legislator crapping themselves at the threat of another ridiculous lawsuit.
