T-Bay Seaweed Bounty?

You can now make $5 per ********* in season from the Columbia River. This program is to curtail the numbers of these salmon fry eating fish. Gave me an idea >>>

Why not have a $2 a pound, or so, bounty on seaweed brought directly to supervised dumpsters at the boatramps of Tillamook Bay? If every fisher out there cleaned the weeds and debris from their lines and hooks each time they reeled in and put the stuff in large buckets, that would eventually make it a much more pleasant fishery. Or would a publisized volunteer effort work?

It would be very unlikely to deplete the natural supply of it enough to negatively impact the ecosystem. And some health food companies use seaweed in their products and might help subsidize the program with buy ups. Anyone in the Tillamook area that agrees with this idea and knows the T-town office ODFW biologist/manager Rich Klumph, suggest this to him. Thanks.

RT

[sinker]

Something I hadn't thought of before is this.
Are ********* native to this region?

[FM2]

HAHAHAHA...HEHEEHHEEEEE!!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

RT, I was saying this same thing last Sunday, but was only suggesting if I made $.01 per pound I could take some time off from work and maybe even retire after a season like this [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

At least I probably could buy a fesheesh samditch from Micdougalls [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[David Johnson]

I've thought about this, they could use it for cow food down there but then the ice cream would probably taste kind of funny

[Pilar]

I heard a guide talking about chain gangs last fall. He thought that prisoners should scour the flats at low tide and pick up the seaweed.

What would prison labor do to the price?

[Pete]

... be forewarned, rambling ahead!
My honest guess is that Tillamook being one of the National Estuary Project sites, it might be hard to implement a project like this.
- I know they have millefoile harvesting machines to clean up bass lakes in Texas, but they are like floating combines and might not work well in moving water. I guess the real question is the source of the weeds.
- Is there an elevated nitrogen level in the water from the non-point source run off (i.e. is the cow poop fertilizing the bay)? If so, is it at all reasonable to think of Tillamook without cows?
- With the recent boom of commercial development, are run off characteristics changing significantly? The Fred Meyer complex has to affect run off differently than the field that was there before.
- What other critters are dependant on the aqueous vegetation? Would removal hurt the oysters or sand shrimp or needle fish or crab populations? If so, could there be a single removal event that wouldn't significantly impact these critters over the course of the year?
- Has the filling in of the bay since the construction of the jetties helped cause this problem?
- Will dredging the Miami Delta (which I have heard is scheduled to occur) result in changes in the problem?
- Did removal of the dolfins make it worse? :-)
- Could it be that you just need to work on your weed-guard technology ... ?

[Jennie@ifish]

Jennie has the skill to catch them in between weed globs.
I was taking off weeds every two minutes and then....
Wallah!
Keep at it, RT... You'll get one!
If you need a little help, e mail me... I'll give you a couple pointers. (EW! OWWW! BURN!)
[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ 10-07-2001: Message edited by: Jennie@ifish ]

[STGRule]

Yes, ********* (now called Northern Pikeminnow) are a native species. Evolved right along side salmonids. If we would just quit messing around with nature, we wouldn't have to mess around with nature. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Good points Pete. There would be a lot of things to consider. I would venture to say that getting a permit for such a program would involve a lot of pre-study; for which there are likely not enough funds available. Of course there is no ordinance that I'm aware of to remove debris off fishing/crabbing gear and throw it where it can do more good?

Nash feesh Jen. Was this one real or another hi-tech pic edit? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] I have only fished T-Bay once this fall - with Jerry and Don along. I got a nice bright hen plump with great eggs. That means I'm batting 100%. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Most of my fishing has been up among hords of fish in Washington, where the water tempts are cooler too. I'll be in the lower Trask, Wilson, and Kilchis after rains bring them up a bit. As long as my new "fish hook" allows me to get out. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

RT

[Fishin Magician]

Shoulda been there today Steve.........The new cure is working quite well [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] JB

[Tanner]

I keep my seaweed and use it to make sushi. YUMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[FishinMission]

Anybody know where I can get CASH for downed leaves??? [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

[SlabQuest]

The Tillamook City Council simply needs to pass an ordinance banning seaweed (specifically eelgrass) in Tillamook Bay and put the Sherrif's Department in charge of enforcement