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Tribes Open First Commercial Fishery of Year; Direct Public Sales Available by Staff Hood River News, June 23, 2020

Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Yakama tribal fishers began making their way to the Columbia River after the tribes announced that the first commercial gillnet fishery of 2020 would open on Monday, June 22. They will harvest sockeye and summer Chinook that will be available for purchase by the general public.

Fisheries managers estimate 246,300 sockeye and 38,000 summer Chinook will return to the Columbia River over the next few weeks. The peak of these runs will occur by the end of June and the abundance may drop quickly, those who want to enjoy a fresh Columbia River Indian-caught salmon this summer are encouraged to take this opportunity, safely.

"The tribal fishery on the Columbia River is a long-honored custom that can be traced back to ancient times when the rivers ran wild," said Jaime A. Pinkham, Executive Director for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. "Whether people come to the river to enjoy its fresh bounties or engage tribal fishers directly, the commercial fishery allows the public to enjoy a taste of history."

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a number of guidelines and recommendations have been made for both tribal fishers and those interested in buying salmon directly.

Those planning to visit the river to buy a salmon are encouraged to wear a face mask and should expect to see fishers make social distancing accommodations.

Many fishers now accept credit cards or mobile payment to avoid handling cash.

The tribes are being cautious and they encourage fish buyers to help in this effort to protect not only themselves, but the tribal community as well.

Both treaty and non-treaty fishery catches will be adjusted throughout the season as the run sizes are updated. Besides Chinook and sockeye, limited numbers of steelhead are available during the summer period.

The tribal fishery is protected under treaties the Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce tribes signed with the federal government in 1855. These treaties reserved their right to fish for ceremonial, subsistence, and commercial uses at all usual and accustomed fishing places in the Columbia Basin.

Direct-to-public sales locations can be found at:

• Celilo Park, just east of The Dalles.

• Marine Park in Cascade Locks

• North Bonneville (one mile east of Bonneville Dam on the Washington side)

• Columbia Point in the Tri-Cities area

When purchasing fish from tribal fishers:

• Wear a face mask and keep a six-foot distance from the seller and other customers.

• Use hand sanitizer.

• Pack a cooler with ice to keep your purchase fresh.

• Sales generally run from 10 a.m. to dusk. The best selection is available early in the day.

• Price is set by individual fishers and is determined at the point of sale.

• Many fishers accept credit cards or mobile cash payments but be prepared with cash just in case.

• Request a receipt.

• The public should call the salmon marketing program at 888-289-1855 before traveling to the sales locations to find out where the current day's catch is being sold. More information on purchasing fish can be found on CRITFC's salmon marketing website www.critfc.org/harvest. Regular updates are also found on CRITFC's social media platforms like www.facebook.com/critfc/ and twitter.com/CRITFC.