Post by: Shootmoore on March 16, 2010, 06:13:28 PM
Counter Proposal Petition
The 2010-12 Salmon catch limits for the upper Columbia have not been set. (The current catch limit is 2 adult salmon plus 4 hatchery or wild jacks.) There will be only one public meeting in eastern Washington to give input in Kennewick on March 23rd at 6:00pm. There currently is only one proposal being put forward and published to the WDFW Commission to adopt for the 2010-12 seasons. This proposal would only affect the upper Columbia and some of its tributaries from above Priest Rapids Dam to Chief Joseph Dam. There are several numbered “ANGLERS CHOICE” proposals (#99-102) due to different locations and or rivers, but the catch limit is the same for all of them.
Current Proposal in summary of catch limit: “The daily limit will be 1 wild OR 3 hatchery adult salmon plus 3 wild or hatchery jacks.” What this means is an angler has to make a choice on either to keep 1 wild fish for the day, or release all wild fish and only keep hatchery fish. There is no combination of wild and hatchery available for adult salmon.
We believe due to the nature of salmon fishing and salmon anglers the current proposal will have a negative affect on the fisherman and communities who benefit from this fishery. WDFW and others want the hatchery fish caught and the only way to do that is to have anglers fishing and trying to catch them. By forcing an angler to quit fishing simply because they caught a wild adult salmon is completely contrary to using anglers as a management tool. The extreme majority of salmon anglers will not turn loose the first salmon of the day because it is wild. We believe anglers will keep that first wild fish, quit fishing, and go home. Everyone benefits much more from anglers spending time fishing compared to not fishing. According to the WDFW web site article in December 2008.
……In terms of economic impacts, commercial and recreational fishing conducted in Washington fisheries directly and indirectly supported an estimated 16,374 jobs and $540 million in personal income in 2006. ……Recreational fishing generates the larger share of economic impacts, supporting 12,850 jobs or more than three-quarters of the fishing-related jobs in 2006. Of the jobs supported by recreational anglers, state residents accounted for more than 90 percent of the spending that supports these jobs………. Recreational anglers in Washington State spent an estimated $904.8 million in 2006 on fishing-related equipment and trip-related items…….
Using these numbers in 2006 alone it would appear that recreational and or sport anglers provided approximately $428 MILLION in personal income to Washington residents, and spent a total of $904.8 MILLION on fishing and fishing related activity.
Counter Proposal in summary of catch limit: “The daily maximum limit will be 3 adult salmon and only 1 of the adult limit can be wild plus 4 wild or hatchery jacks.” What this means is an angler can catch a combination of wild and hatchery adult salmon and jacks. The adult retention limit can be any combination of wild and hatchery fish up to a maximum limit of three as long as only one is wild.
Upper Columbia Salmon Catch Limit
Counter Proposal Petition
We who have signed this petition believe the counter proposal listed above is the best and correct catch limit for upper Columbia Chinook Salmon. We have considered all aspects of this amazing fishery for everyone involved not just one particular interest. We see too often those responsible for ensuring the equality and sustainability of our natural resources fail to weigh all the aspects of their decision due to heavy pressure from special interest groups. By signing this petition we request and believe this is the best option for all concerned parties to continue to benefit from an amazing fishery and recreational activity. If more restrictive catch limits are imposed we believe and know that it will negatively affect the all aspects of this fishery from recreation to economic viability for many years to come.
NAME ADDRESS SIGNATURE
Upper Columbia Salmon Catch Limit
Counter Proposal Petition
We who have signed this petition believe the counter proposal listed above is the best and correct catch limit for upper Columbia Chinook Salmon. We have considered all aspects of this amazing fishery for everyone involved not just one particular interest. We see too often those responsible for ensuring the equality and sustainability of our natural resources fail to weigh all the aspects of their decision due to heavy pressure from special interest groups. By signing this petition we request and believe this is the best option for all concerned parties to continue to benefit from an amazing fishery and recreational activity. If more restrictive catch limits are imposed we believe and know that it will negatively affect the all aspects of this fishery from recreation to economic viability for many years to come.
NAME ADDRESS SIGNATURE
Post by: klickman on March 19, 2010, 12:14:18 PM
The Kenai river has a similar situation. Even though you can only keep one fish a day, you can C&R until you catch a fish you want to harvest. Many anglers will release kings because they want to catch a trophy king. Just like many people would release a wild king so they could catch 3 hatchery fish.
The counter proposal would actually increase in harvest of wild fish. Isn't that the segment of the run that we are trying to save. If there is sound science behind your proposal I don't see it. WDFW is trying to limit the harvest on the weakest part of a run of fish. Makes sense to me.
KLICKMAN
Post by: Shootmoore on March 19, 2010, 12:54:35 PM
I'm still on the fence about this. One issue I see on the "release" of the wild fish, most people use Herring which is bait, which would make it illegal unless specifically addressed as you you are not supposed to release fish when caught with bait.
Shootmoore
Post by: klickman on March 20, 2010, 12:43:20 PM
Releasing with bait is a good pt. I think the regulation on releasing bait caught fish is for trout fisherman, I don't think its the same for salmon and steelhead, I think. THe release mortality is really low for upriver salmon even when the fish is caught on bait. We saw it this year with the Methow, when they required mandatory harvest of hatchery fish, this is the way fisheries are going to be managed in the future. Mass marking of hatchery fish and no retention of wild fish. Which is the way it should be, until the wild fish recover.
KLICKMAN