Post by: Blacktail Sniper on March 14, 2016, 12:04:55 PM
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.
Post by: bearpaw on March 14, 2016, 12:22:39 PM
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 14, 2016, 12:40:03 PM
Post by: WSU on March 14, 2016, 12:44:20 PM
Post by: Special T on March 14, 2016, 12:50:40 PM
Post by: C-Money on March 15, 2016, 07:46:33 AM
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! :tup:
Post by: Dhoey07 on March 15, 2016, 08:25:05 AM
Post by: heronblu on March 15, 2016, 09:47:55 AM
Post by: sirmissalot on March 15, 2016, 10:33:18 AM
Shut it down......for everyone.
If it includes everyone, I completely agree.
Post by: Dhoey07 on March 15, 2016, 10:38:37 AM
Yes, EVERYONE. Regardless of color, creed or occupation.Shut it down......for everyone.
If it includes everyone, I completely agree.
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 15, 2016, 11:29:37 AM
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.
Post by: lokidog on March 15, 2016, 11:33:44 AM
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.
:yeah:
Post by: Encore 280 on March 15, 2016, 11:39:01 AM
Post by: WSU on March 15, 2016, 11:40:10 AM
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? :bash:
That's not uncommon at all and happens for a variety of reasons.
Post by: Antlershed on March 15, 2016, 01:00:00 PM
It will never include everyone...Shut it down......for everyone.
If it includes everyone, I completely agree.
Post by: WSU on March 15, 2016, 01:06:28 PM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on March 15, 2016, 01:07:19 PM
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on March 15, 2016, 01:27:53 PM
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.
Post by: WSU on March 15, 2016, 01:34:07 PM
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.
Post by: Dhoey07 on March 15, 2016, 01:47:33 PM
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 15, 2016, 01:50:17 PM
Post by: WSU on March 15, 2016, 02:13:51 PM
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?
Post by: Antlershed on March 15, 2016, 02:20:50 PM
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"... :dunno:
Post by: WSU on March 15, 2016, 02:26:57 PM
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"... :dunno:
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.
Post by: WSU on March 15, 2016, 02:28:45 PM
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"... :dunno:
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.
Post by: Antlershed on March 15, 2016, 02:31:30 PM
Agreed 100%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"... :dunno:
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.
Post by: Mfowl on March 15, 2016, 06:54:27 PM
Post by: 2labs on March 15, 2016, 07:17:24 PM
Post by: Stein on March 15, 2016, 07:29:09 PM
Post by: elkfins on March 15, 2016, 09:37:31 PM
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
Post by: Duckslayer89 on March 15, 2016, 09:47:49 PM
Funny in Alaska, natives don't have any special fishing or hunting rights. The only thing they get extra is sea mammal rights.
Post by: lokidog on March 15, 2016, 10:16:26 PM
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....
Post by: WAPatriot on March 15, 2016, 10:28:31 PM
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.
Post by: WAPatriot on March 15, 2016, 10:34:14 PM
Post by: Bango skank on March 15, 2016, 10:38:26 PM
Post by: WAPatriot on March 15, 2016, 10:42:09 PM
Post by: WAPatriot on March 15, 2016, 10:47:48 PM
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.
Post by: JLS on March 15, 2016, 10:51:12 PM
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.
Post by: WAPatriot on March 15, 2016, 10:55:01 PM
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.
Post by: fish vacuum on March 15, 2016, 11:12:29 PM
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Post by: Duckslayer89 on March 15, 2016, 11:14:41 PM
Post by: Forks on March 16, 2016, 05:02:14 AM