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Ecology and salmon related articles

Don't Support Gillnetting

by Vince Archibald
The Daily Astorian, March 7, 2019

Lower Columbia River gillnetters got a day on the river this week. (WDFW photo) As a Northwest fisherman for the last 30 years, I take exception to The Daily Astorian's support of Columbia River gillnetting. I have friends who are, or have been gillnetters, so believe me, I've heard their side.

The fish in the main channel are all Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed. I've seen the result of mesh size selectivity, and it isn't all that selective. The Columbia is the only river still allowing these nets, with good reason. As sportsmen, we're told that the Columbia River endorsement would go toward removing the nets, and now their use is being expanded for 2019.

It just doesn't add up. Neither does the newspaper's backing of commercial Columbia River netting. The money brought into the local economy by sports fishing dwarfs that generated by commercial salmon fisheries. I'm very disappointed by The Daily Astorian's stance on this issue.

Related Sites"
Fish Traps, Alternative To Current Commercial Fishing Methods, Being Tested In Lower Columbia Columbia Basin Bulletin, 12/15/17
ODFW Reopens Harvest Rules Focused On Phasing Out Mainstem Gillnets Below Bonneville Columbia Basin Bulletin, 12/15/17
Oregon Harvest Reforms Differ From Washington In How Much Gillnetting Allowed Columbia Basin Bulletin, 1/27/17
Washington Votes To Move Forward With Columbia River Harvest Changes, Oregon To Consider Similar Plan Columbia Basin Bulletin, 1/27/17
Washington, Oregon Fish/Wildlife Commissions On Parallel Course With Columbia River Harvest Reform Columbia Basin Bulletin, 12/9/16
Washington, Oregon Fish/Wildlife Commissions Considering Next Moves On Lower River GillnettingColumbia Basin Bulletin, 12/2/16
Oregon Commission To Review Columbia River Harvest Reforms, May Consider Extending Mainstem Gillnets Columbia Basin Bulletin, 11/4/16
Oregon Commission Hears Review Of Fishing Reforms Banning Lower Columbia Gillnetters From Mainstem Columbia Basin Bulletin, 4/22/16
Oregon ‘Re-Adopts' Lower Columbia Commercial Gill-Net Ban; Slew Of Uncertainties Remain Columbia Basin Bulletin, 6/7/13


Vince Archibald, Vancouver, Washington
Preliminary Data Shows Steelhead Mortality from Gillnetting May be Lower than Thought
The Daily Astorian, March 7, 2019

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