Good news about CR wild steelhead

Just got this letter from Tom Wolf,Chairman of the Oregon Council of Trout Unlimited.

Shane,
Hank Hosfield, president of the Tualatin Valley Chapter of TU, told me that you asked about incidental winter steelhead mortality on Columbia and what is going on. He referred that question to me and I will answer it as best I can.
As you know, several weeks ago WDFW and ODFW started talking about asking NOAA to raise the incidental catch of winter steelhead on the Columbia river, during the spring chinook season, from 2 % to a maximum of 7 %. Trout Unlimited, Oregon Trout and Native Fish Society sent letters to ODFW in protest. This led to a meeting with ODFW staff who, after we presented data about risk involved, told us they wouldn't support raise. We talked to ODFW Commissioners also and they sated they wouldn't support raise.
Last week the Columbia River Compact, which is both WDFW and ODFW, announced that mortality for incidental take of steelhead on Columbia would stay at 2%. And ODFW has also announced that it would stay at 2%.
So right now incidental catch on steelhead will stay at 2 %.
This is probably old news but it is indeed good news

[ 02-16-2004, 04:33 PM: Message edited by: Stew ]

[sparkleboy]

That is excellent news!
Kudos to both groups for protesting, and also to ODFW and WDFW for listening to their concerns, and re-evaluating their decision!
Who says fish and wildlife departments don't listen to people...!

[ 02-16-2004, 04:54 PM: Message edited by: sparkleboy ]

[garyk]

And just for clarity....

that 'spring chinook season' being referred to is the commercial gillnetting season - not recreational sportfishing.

Good news indeed, and another excellent reason for sport fishers to get behind the organization of their choice, by contributing financially or as a volunteer, and not leave it up to others to fight these fights.

[Born to be Wild]

Great news Stew!

All of these special interest groups have there down fall as far as I am concerned and I disagree with some of there actions.

But on the other hand they do some good also!

Dano

[Point-of-Sale Clerk]

Stew

Thank you for the information.

Unfortunately not all things are as they appear. The Biological Assessment (BA) that ODFW and WDFW submitted to NOAA fisheries is not dead. NOAA is still considering the states request to increase the incidental impact by commercial nets upon wild steelhead. Peter Dygert of NOAA fisheries said that the review of this BA would be done in 4 weeks from the date of the last request for information. In every news release ODFW has done so far they have been careful only to say that they would do early planning on the 2% limit. There is no restriction upon ODFW staff to change once they get the new limit. The Commission did indicate that they want to see it come before them before it is implemented but Steve King has indicated that his office does not need approval to implement the new limits

As to the meeting between ODFW staff and representatives of Trout Unlimited, Oregon Trout, and the Native Fish Society… If it is the January 28th meeting he is referring to he is absolutely incorrect. I personally like Mr. Wolf, but he was not in attendance and ODFW staff did not say anything close to that . They pushed forward and did not care what the Conservation groups said. [img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img]

The higher limits are still in the works. :depressed:

Do not let this info fool you

[ 02-16-2004, 11:21 PM: Message edited by: *** Clerk ]

Just going by what Tom Wolf said

[Pete]

I don't believe the proposal to NOAA fisheries to increase allowable impacts to wild winter steelhead is off the table. In fact, Peter Dygert of NOAA Fisheries reported to the CRC on February 5th that he expected the review to be complete in about 4 weeks. On February 6, the Oregon Commission asked Oregon staff to the CRC for an opportunity for a hearing prior to adopting any change in regulation as a result of the NOAA Fisheries reconsideration, although I don't believe there is any procedural requirement for such a hearing. There is no reason to believe the allowable incidental impact on wild steelhead wouldn't be changed to 7% before the commercial season gets under way this spring.

[straightweave]

Thanks, Pete.