Latest Salmon closure info

[whaleraddict]

Here is the latest news on the Ocean Closure. This is the article from the Oregonian this morning:



fisheries off coast
Fishing - The closure could clobber coastal towns from south of San Francisco through most of Oregon
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
PETER SLEETH and MICHAEL MILSTEIN
SEATTLE -- Federal fish managers on Tuesday said both commercial and sport salmon fishing from California to Oregon must not be allowed this season.

If taken, it would be the first time for such a widespread closure -- one that would devastate coastal fisheries and make ocean-caught salmon scarce to the retail buyer.

The National Marine Fisheries Service recommendation to the Pacific Fishery Management Council is only one voice the council must consider as it meets this week in Seattle, but it carries tremendous weight. The council is an advisory body to the fisheries service and proposes harvest limit.

"This would be unprecedented and, needless to say, would have tremendous effects on fishermen," said Brian Gorman, a fisheries service spokesman. "But we don't see around this, is what we're saying. No flexibility."

Salmon fishing along approximately 700 miles of coastline -- from Oregon's Cape Falcon, near Manzanita, to California's Point Sur, just south of San Francisco -- would be shut down if the recommendation becomes fact.

The area affected by the expected closure supplied 96 percent of the roughly 250,000 salmon caught commercially last year in the ocean off Oregon, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. About two-thirds of salmon caught by Oregon sportfishermen last year in the ocean came from the same area.

The reason for the closure: a desperate situation on the Klamath River, where the fall chinook run is dwindling.

Gorman said this is the third year in a row Klamath fish have not met minimum thresholds, a likely result of depleted river flows that made conditions ripe for a fish-killing parasite. The parasite thrives in slow-moving, warm water, and the Klamath River has been found to be teeming with it in recent years.

"Like most problems, this is one caused by a series of several discrete events that have a cascading effect and will likely end up leading to a catastrophe," Gorman said. "It's not just a single, isolated cause."

Even though there are plenty more salmon in the Pacific Ocean off the West Coast, regulators want to shut the season down to save the Klamath runs.

Fisheries regulators use a methodology known as "weak stock management." That means when there is danger of overfishing the weakest stock in a given area of ocean, all fishing for that kind of fish is stopped. Because the Klamath River salmon return to the river from north and south of the river's mouth, all salmon fishing must stop in the designated area because it is impossible to tell from which river a given fish may have originated.

That's bad news for consumers. The shutdown certainly will mean far less ocean-caught salmon in grocery stores and potentially higher prices.
And worse news for fishermen. Many face economic ruin and are calling for a federal disaster declaration. Coastal communities that depend on the sportfishing trade -- from motels to restaurants to charter boats -- could be hammered, as well.

Klamath River chinook populations have fallen well below required limits for the past several years, said Peter Dygert, a fisheries service spokesman. Biologists are expecting 29,000 spawning salmon to return to the Klamath for the fall chinook run; that's 6,000 fish below the minimum for conservation.


Traditional season


In a plentiful year, the salmon trolling season begins March 15 and runs through October. With declining runs in the Klamath, last year only about half of the season went forward. Historically, the Klamath Basin was one of the West Coast's top three most productive salmon river systems, behind only the Columbia and Sacramento river basins.

Today the salmon runs are beset by a host of intractable problems. From irrigation battles at its headwaters near Klamath Falls to a series of dams that prevent fish passage, to declining water quality and disease, the river is an obstacle course to the few remaining fish that attempt to spawn.

The council has authority in federal waters from three miles off the Pacific coastline to 200 miles out. States, which have jurisdiction from the shoreline to three miles out to sea, typically follow federal recommendations.

Dygert encouraged the council to proceed to consider other recommendations but cautioned that the fisheries service is unlikely to approve a proposal without an emergency closure. The fisheries service has final approval over any proposal from the council.


Appears certain


If the season is closed, as it now appears is almost certain, the government would work to expedite federal disaster relief for fishermen, said Frank Lockhart, director of the fisheries service's Northwest sustainable fisheries division.

The salmon season is the focal point of the Seattle meetings. Attendees were anticipating the guidance from fisheries service in a letter last week. By Tuesday, the letter still hadn't been approved by officials in Washington, D.C. Instead, the contents were read to the council.

The council is expected to make its final recommendation to the fisheries service when it meets again in April in Sacramento.

Peter Sleeth: 503-294-4119; petersleeth@news.oregonian.com The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Straydog]

NOW is the time to inundate our Federal and State legislators with mail stating our opinions.

For those of us in the business, or affected by the business, we need to make our letters very personal in terms of the ramifications of this to our livlihoods.

Once again, the Oregonian focus is pretty much on the fishermen losing out, it does not focus much on the economic devistation this well bring to our coast and beyond......

[flapbreaker]

I don't understand how closing the season will make the river conditions "right". Am I being shortsighted? It seems like this is like putting a bandaid on the wrong wound.

[opah]

Lots of good information about this on coastside fishing club.This is a really big deal, looks like the beginning of the end.

[little doc]

In a purely selfish light, as a doryman, I hope I am able to get off the beach for some salmon this summer.

If the powers that be deem it necessary to close the whole ocean for the Klamath river fish, I also hope they will do everything possible to get every ounce of water into the river that is available, and not spill it into irrigated fields. I'm not well educated in the plight of the Klamath river fish, but feel that there is never only one variable in the management of any natural resource. Other variables may be equally, or even more important in the recovery of the run, I just don't know.

Salmon are important, and I am willing to do my part in keeping any salmon run as viable as possible, but do not think the fishing/costal communities should bear the whole burden of restoring this run.

Disaster releif is helpful to those who make their living at fishing, and I do not minimize it's importance, but it does not allow these people to do what they love, and does not address the addiction of weekend warriors and sporties like myself.

Out on the water, this would have far reaching consequences, including more pressure on TUNA by people who may or may not be equiped properly, and more pressure on bottomfish, with an almost certain closure on them when the quota is met.

[Flush Release]

Out on the water, this would have far reaching consequences, including more pressure on TUNA by people who may or may not be equiped properly, and more pressure on bottomfish, with an almost certain closure on them when the quota is met.

Very real statement that concerns anyone who Fishes the ocean.

Although I do not fish for Salmon I do enjoy chasing Tuna and cathing/eating the "other" fish. Will be real interesting to see how this unfolds.

[Flush Release]

I don't understand how closing the season will make the river conditions "right". Am I being shortsighted? It seems like this is like putting a bandaid on the wrong wound.

They do this as a blanket approch to protect Salmon from specific systems where they intermix in the Ocean.
Another thing that bothers me is the number of Sea Lions at the mouth of the Klamath. Will these actions just supply them with a full banquet when the Fish hit the estuary and not change a thing for the numbers instream.

Very complex and emotionally charged situation with no easy fix in sight.

[kamloops]

I'm fraid it's pretty much a done deal.

I know it doesn't make anyone feel anybetter but...
Does anyone remember the lean salmon years in the 80's

What we have for the past 6-7 seasons has been pretty good,
it will rebound, always does....

No, I anin't gonna sell my boats, I'll find something else to fish for as long as they let us fish the oceans.
If they get their way and are able to throw us off our oceans than I'm going to sell.

[Flush Release]

I remember when , in 82/83 you had to keep the first two you caught not matter how small they were. Hard pressed back then to get anything much larger than a 20" Coho. Tuna fishing was GREAT though

[Fish mojo]

The feds mis managed the Klamath water basin years ago destroying breeding stock. Now we pay for their doings.
Sad....

[Flush Release]

They mismanaged the whole system not just the Basin.
Add to it the MMPA and

[Crustycritter]

I'm concerned about all of those people determined to get their salmon. Even if it means driving up to Astoria and going out of the Columbia with little or no experience going over the Columbia Bar to get their fish and finding out that it is a little more challenging (to say the least)than heading out of Newport. Looks like I will be waiting for the fish on the incomming tide and catching them after they have entered the streams. Sounds like a busy year on the Siletz.

[skein]

Skein keeps typing and erasing, typing and erasing....

Being natually politically incorrect, I need to stay out of this conversation, but please note I am reading every word.

"Honey, how do you spell incompetent [petunias!]?"

Skein

[Flush Release]

I hope this does not go the same way as the other posts on this issue

We could make it into a Sea Lion bashing thread though

Really what littdoc had said is of real concern as the pressure on the Rockfish will increase drastically.

[Salty Walty]

Maybe we should all take a collective breath and wait and see what comes out of the Council. The Newspapers have a job. First and foremost is to sell papers and the second which sometimes falls prey to the first is to report the News. In the Northwest there are not too many topics hotter than our Salmon and the importance of the Stocks and Fisheries. So it behooves the Papers to print the worst case scenarios and illicit public outcry to sell papers. I am not saying that a complete closure will not happen but there are other alternatives and options on the table besides this one. All will be discussed and weighed before anything is decided. So take the Newspaper Articles for what they are worth and the reasons behind the printing of the stories that are "Above the Fold" .

[Flush Release]

crusty, been awhile.

[flapbreaker]

Should be pretty good river fishing?

[Flush Release]

Should be pretty good river fishing?

Please, I don't even want to get on this issue

[Tacklebuster]

Ok, I'll try to think of a positive thought.....
On days that all depth is closed, maybe I won't have to deal with the coho crowd when I want to find a flattie or some nice lings inside the 40

That's about the best I can come up with.

I cut my eye teeth on ocean fishing for Salmon back in 2001 off the Oregon coast. One trip out to the spark plug in my Jet boat was all it took to put me deep in debt for a lot of years. I know a lot of the Dogs pursue other things but I still make the Salmon a big part of my summer. The mouth of the Columbia will be a mad house this year. The Coasties will be stretched pretty thin and working their arses off from the opener to the closure. If you think the lines are long at the ramp in Chinook, Warrenton and Hammond in the past, you aint seen nothing yet

Oh well, looks like it will be a year of Halibut, Tuna! and bottomfish for this skipper. Maybe I'll save a few pesos with a few less trips

[Lepper]

Get your bottom fish soon and get them fast, that quota will be met very fast!!

dave

[garyk]

It will be interesting to see how this impacts the North-of-Falcon process? With increased fishing pressure north of Cape Falcon due to the closure, will there be even more lobbying to transfer a greater portion of the Columbia River allowable catch to the offshore fisheries? Making for an even shorter CR in-river season? You'll recall last years Sept 17 closure.

It's too bad it takes a trainwreck of a crisis like this, but this may finally bring pressure to bear on improving the Klamath's health.

It just goes to show that actions far removed from us, like diverting the Trinity's flows out of the Klamath watershed and into California's Central Valley to grow cotton and alfalfa, have impacts that will be felt in Tillamook and clear up into Canada (the shifting northward of fishing pressure) and upstream through the Columbia (possible shortened seasons).

[CATCH AND EAT]

Don't even go there about diverting fish from the CR anywhere. Thanks.

[garyk]

Don't even go there about diverting fish from the CR anywhere.

I hear ya, C&E! I've planned to take Monday the 13th off for a long time to attend the Vancouver N-o-F process meeting and advocate for a full September fishery. I DON'T WANT a REPEAT of LAST YEARS CLOSURE.

I really didn't expect this full closure...the wild card's been dealt though. Now everybody's gonna be fighting for the scraps. Hope some other folks attend to argue for the Columbia in-river season.

[royalfish]

I am like Skein, type, delete, re-type, no, I am not going there.

Hate to say it, but this is just the tip of the Iceberg.

What's next only time will tell.

[whaleraddict]

Onr thing that is not mentioned: Are they going to close the river to netting by the Indians? This river is heavily fished by gill nets but my quess is they won't close that fishery :whazzup:.

[fishbait]

This is a shame, but as the fight for water increases all across the west, the repercusions will also increase. Plus, cyclical ocean conditions have a significant impact. Those of you that were fishing the salt in the 70's and 80's have seen this before as well as catching mature coho hens that were 17 " long. This issue is huge and unfortunately the solutions are political and economic and not always in the best interest of the fish.

I feel sorry for all the small business and communities that will be adversly affected by the lack of available salmon. Our ability to catch a few salmon is small compared to the hardship to good peoples lives that this will cause.

Seems shortsighted to me to have diverted and continue to divert the water necessary for the survival of the fish in this basin to the benefif of so few when so many are impacted by the results.

Unfortunately with the current climatologists predictions for the next 20 years, snowpack, read water, will decrease all across the NW and the increased competation for a decreasing resource will lead to many changes.

This book:Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, gives some insight into just how important water is and some of the future issues the Pacific NW will face in the next 40 years. If you have not read it, it's worth the time.

[Flush Release]

Onr thing that is not mentioned: Are they going to close the river to netting by the Indians? This river is heavily fished by gill nets but my quess is they won't close that fishery :whazzup:.

No, it is by treaty and I think maybe sportfishing instream may be allowed.

Now if the Natives do so voluntarally for them.

[Bill Monroe]

Maybe we should all take a collective breath and wait and see what comes out of the Council. The Newspapers have a job. First and foremost is to sell papers and the second which sometimes falls prey to the first is to report the News. In the Northwest there are not too many topics hotter than our Salmon and the importance of the Stocks and Fisheries. So it behooves the Papers to print the worst case scenarios and illicit public outcry to sell papers. I am not saying that a complete closure will not happen but there are other alternatives and options on the table besides this one. All will be discussed and weighed before anything is decided. So take the Newspaper Articles for what they are worth and the reasons behind the printing of the stories that are "Above the Fold" .

Nonsense. The newspaper's first and foremost responsibility is to let the public know what's going on. Selling papers is important, even without another newspaper around. But it's secondary to providing as full and accurate accounting as possible of events that affect our lives. Seems to me that's being done here. Would you have preferred the decisions be made without advance knowledge?
C'mon...

[bajadan2000]

Both fishing and hunting wild game/fish has been artificially managed to the point that to continue to hunt and fish we must continue to artificially manage these resorces. Which is OK since if the resources are MANAGED PROPERLY , wild game and fish flourish.

Now, the new breed thinking is to return everything to its natural state. Then if there is an abundance of game/fish somewhere it will be OK to manage them with hunting or fishing.

I see nothing in the pipeline that will help us to have better hunting or fishing any time soon, if we we be able to hunt or fish at all.

Everything is either protected or miss managed now except the hunter and fisherman.

[Flush Release]

[kamloops]

It's like paying taxes, once they get us off the Ocean or Water, do you actually think they will let back. Not now with the *global warming* indoctrination doom and gloom experts.

[Eastside Dave]

Ok,
I'm completely naive, young, and a rookie salt. I am a doryman and have fished for coho/chinook/bottom fish the past five years and absolutely love my relatively new hobby, my new passion if you will. Forgive me for asking a question or two that have probably already been addressed.

Selfishly asking a sport fishing question - Will we have a coho season? If Klamath fall chinook are what we need to avoid, can't we simply release wild sport caught chinook and keep fin clipped coho and chinook? Or release all chinook? Now I know that there is a mortality factor in releasing salmon... but could this be a proper solution to sport fishing for salmon?

[Salty Walty]

http://www.newportnewstimes.com/arti...ews/news02.txt

Here is an Article from our paper, not that it is a beacon of light or a pulitzer candidate but merely another take on the situation. So please take my post for what you will, my opinion. I am prepared for the worst and do not think that it can't happen. But I also fail to see how the reporting of only the worst case scenario does anything more than cause more strife and side taking on this issue. A few weeks ago we had people screaming for lawsuits on one of the ODFW Commissioners over a salmon allocation decision and boycotts. I will continue to attend meetings and be involved in the process.
Bill, I am sorry if my post offended you. I was merely trying to point out that there are other options that will be considered before this is settled.

[fisher-price]

I guess I need a little education.

Didn't this same situation come up last year or the year before. Predictions were no salmon season yet there was a season.

Only about 3% of the quota was caught last year, as you all well know, wouldn't that make up for some lost ground in the fish numbers?

If there is no season what about the economic impact on the fishing communities. I mean Charelston is on the edge even with a good year. No season would impact that community very hard. Does this mean nothing to those that regulate the seasons and quaota's?

Could this be a way of panicing the fishing community in such a manner as to reduce the quota? You know kind of a "better than nothing" thing? Like instead of 44,000 reduce it to 25,000 and at least there is some season?

As I have stated I do not know all of the in's and outs so please bare with me on this.


Thanks,

f~p

[Flush Release]

Good question.

From what I have seen in the past with ESA issues is a blanket approch to protect the target species which means literally full closure for all species (Salmon) in the intermixing zones of these fish stocks. This is based on incidental catch mortality rates for Salmon.

Even at best C/R is sketchy on survival of the fish released.

Thing I really get PO'd about is even the thought of having Native Gillnets and maybe even instream sportfishing in the Klamath allowed with this Ocean closure if, and thats a big if it happens.

To early to tell.

[fishbait]

This man has forgot more about salmon recovery than most of us know!

Jim Lichatowich, author of Salmon without Rivers:
A History of the Pacific Salmon Crisis

Wednesday, March 8, 2006, 7:15 pm
Smith Center 296/8, Portland State Univ.

Free admission; the public is welcome
Free parking in Parking 2 after 7 pm
Co-sponsor: PSU Department of Anthropology

[Pilar]

Thanks Bill. See you at CR.

What can we do about the mismanagement of the Klamath with respect to diversions for irrigation?

[tailchaser]

I have real concerns over what kind of presidence (sp?) this decision will make in the long run. A single run of fish, creating a cause and effect influence in two entire states. What happens when the siletz has a subpar run for three years? Since we don't know where the salmon travel to, we have no choice but to close everthing down north and south of it......It could become a very bad trend when a single river shuts all of it down.

The science is very marginal at best when it comes to known numbers of returning fish, where they travel in the ocean, and what exactly is the cause of their demise. Because everything is calculated with exponential equations. They physically don't count every fish. We're risking millions of dollars and many jobs on sketchy science, and that worries me a ton.

We do know several factors though, disease, overharvest in the rivers near spawning grounds, gillnets "IN" the river, and seals are overabundant in the estuary. The projections of fish returning have a range in statistical analysis. Chances are pretty good that the number being applied is the lowest number on that bell curve. They know very well that the closer the number to the return rate of 35k, the less likely they will have a shutdown that they want. So they're going to sell it as gloom and doom to the council.

I for one will be really ticked if they don't solve some of the other factors invloved in the same process that can save more salmon than the harvest in the ocean. The ability to successfully spawn in the river has been greatly hampered. That river is basically a cespool of problems up and down. Start there and move towards the ocean. Then after all those issues have been resolved and we still have a problem, I'll be much more open to restrict my backyard for thiers.

tc

[Bill Monroe]

I'm not at all offended; just setting the record straight from an insider's viewpoint when it comes to media...
Don't see how they can allow fishing, but I'm frequently surprised. As I understand it, nmfs has to ask for no fishing when the numbers fall that low three years in a row. Then permission to fish has to come out of the White House. But the senior White House guy was just here about a month ago saying he didn't see why we're eating fish from low runs...
As many have pointed out...we'll just have to wait and see.

[Seelicious]

John that is the question...how do we fix the "water" issue?

If the water is not there when the fish need it...does it matter how many fish make it back?

Do we stop diverting the water to farmers and save it for the fish? Or, are these farmers more important than the fish, the fishermen and the coastal economies?

Boy, we humans sure have done a fine job with this planet over the last 100 years or so...when will the "greed" be less important than doing what's right?

I just want to puke!

[saman]

The ability to successfully spawn in the river has been greatly hampered. That river is basically a cespool of problems up and down. Start there and move towards the ocean. Then after all those issues have been resolved and we still have a problem, I'll be much more open to restrict my backyard for thiers.

You have hit the nail on the proverbial head here.

For anyone reading this and wondering why such issues cannot be left up to the "experts" to sort out, this is why. Issues like this have to be dealt with at the root or they will never be corrected in any way shape or form.

As has been stated here before...why does NMFS want to save every single one in an effort to get them all back home where most of them will in all likelyhood parish anyway???
A blind eye has been turned from the logical decision once again.

[flapbreaker]

...why does NMFS want to save every single one in an effort to get them all back home where most of them will in all likelyhood parish anyway???

Because it will look like they tried. But in reality we all know they tried the wrong "cure". I think this is a case of taking the easier path. I guess it's easier to tell fisherman no than farmers (nothing against farmers).

[Pilar]

No one had the guts to limit the irrigation diversions when it could have made a difference. Now we are down to extreme measures aimed at protecting the returning fish, with the glaring exception of native fishing with nets. Who is stopping the drift nets offshore? Who is preventing other nations from harvesting the fish when they migrate far away to feed and grow? Who is controlling the exploding pinneped populations as they learn new behaviors, swim up rivers a hundred miles or more and gorge themselves on fish ladder salmon?

How many ignored elephants are there in the room anyway?

Too many interests that are protected from any consequence of their actions by a greased palm. All that is left is you and me.

This is an old story .. pick a river. Go and look at Grand Coulee dam and try to imagine what 100 pound salmon looked like when they swam past that point. What is new now is that the ocean can be shut down. No one else is making any sacrifices. It is business as usual.

Dam the rivers, dump the chemicals, pump the water into the desert to grow superfluous crops, bribe the congressman .. whine about enviromental degredation .. and pray for a plague to wipe the human infestation off the planet.

[Seelicious]

Bro...humans are a stain on this planet!

[ron m]

NMFS not releasing their recommendation before the meeting in Seattle makes me wonder if there is a political agenda or if they just couldn't agree among themselves.

The article did mention the possibility of an "Emergency" declaration, that may yet happen.

Since the info Curt Melcher gave us at the Newport meeting last week said that sportsfishing had almost no impact on the KR salmon, closing the sports season makes no sense. Completely closing the commercial doesn't make a lot of sense either when they can impose restrictions on when and/or where to fish that can reduce the number of KR salmon caught.

Maybe this will provide the needed motivation to deal with the Klamath situation. maybe, but we'll need to keep pushing the politicins to do something about it.

Thre is still today and tomorrow at the Seattle meeting and the PFMC may yet declare the emergency there or at their April meeting.
ron m

[CATCH AND EAT]

Bro...humans are a stain on this planet!

Bud not to slam ya here but that is harsh.

Love ya anyways

[Wrangler]

Time to go back to diving at least I can see the fish I would like to eat!

[Seelicious]

C&E...no worries...you're right...not all humans are a stain on this planet...but we as a nation have allowed our decision makers, on boths sides of the asile, to let greed guide them.

I can only imagine where we would be if all of us put as much effort into our political system as we do fishing. I'm as guilty as anyone for "trusting" the system.

Peace-

[CATCH AND EAT]

Agreed.

[FASTWATER]

North of Falcon meeting is tomorrow nite I believe at the Mill Creek WDFG office for you Metro guys it is open to the public so I should have a report for everyone on friday as to what smoking guns we are facing,7:30 if you want to attend, the address is on the WDFG web site!!!PEACE

[fishitis]

Another good read on this topic is "King of Fish" by David Montgomery. This book covers the last 400 years of salmon mismanagement, starting in Europe. Amazingly, the same mistakes have been repeated during that whole time on different continents. We may have some new issues, such as dams and hatcheries, but the same political finger pointing and "it's not my fault" attitude have prevailed.
I hope we address the river problems, I can't imagine a positive outcome without it.