comments on increase harvest impact/steelhead

[Point-of-Sale Clerk]

From Bill Bakke
Director
Native Fish Society


"January 23, 2004


Memorandum


TO: Peter Dygert, NMFS, ODFW Commission, ODFW staff

FR: Bill Bakke, Director
RE: Proposal by Oregon and Washington to increase mortality on listed steelhead and chinook to harvest excess hatchery chinook.


The proposal by the states of Oregon and Washington to increase harvest impacts on wild winter steelhead and spring chinook in the Lower Columbia River is being made so that there can be an increased harvest of hatchery spring chinook in 2004. However, this proposal needs further evaluation. It is our concern that unless this is done listed species will be placed at unacceptable risk. I have read the states’ proposal and the Fishery Management and Evaluation Plans for steelhead and chinook in addition to speaking with ODFW and NMFS staff about this proposal. I have the following concerns that NMFS should address before making a decision on this expanded risk to listed species.


1. I contacted ODFW when I discovered the states’ proposal on January 16, 2004. I was informed by the Conservation and Recovery Program leader, Charlie Corrarino, that the proposal sent to NMFS had not been reviewed by his staff. Since his staff is responsible for conservation planning, this review would be a routine process at ODFW. Not only were the Conservation and Recovery Program staff surprised to learn of this proposal from the public, I have learned that the chief of the fish division was also not aware of the proposal having been sent to NMFS. In addition, in speaking with the Chair of the ODFW Commission, John Esler, I learned that the Commission had not reviewed the draft and provided staff with direction on incidental take of steelhead. All this suggests that the proposal sent to NMFS by the states to increase the kill rate on listed chinook and steelhead had not gone through the customary technical and public review prior to submission...."


This may not be looking good for ODFW

[MonkeyBoy]

Kind of makes you say hmmm. Anybody with more info?

[Wood N' Fish]

Who is Bill Bakke?, and what is the native fish conservation society? Sounds like I should arrive cloaked in secrecy, surrounded in a password? [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

[SHLEPROCK]

:whazzup:

[ 01-24-2004, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: SHLEPROCK ]

[GutshotApe]

Originally posted by Wood N' Fish:
Who is Bill Bakke?, and what is the native fish conservation society?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I first met Bill Bakke about 30 years ago and know him as an effective f&w commission and state legislative lobbyist whose career has been dedicated to fish and fish conservation. He was director of Oregon Trout for several years, I believe. Now, his Native Fish Society is one of the most effective watchdog groups working for the restoration of native fish. When Bakke speaks or issues a statement like this one, people can't easily ignore what he says.

[ssteelheadsteve]

When you read the above post from Bill Bakke I suggest you read as much as you possibly can
" BETWEEN THE LINES " in the phrases broadest sense.

[Ty]

Bill Blake is one of those gusy behind the curtain that fights for "wild" and "native" fish all over.

He is one of those guys behind teh curtains helping use all. I don't aggree with everything they do, but what he stands for should be done.

[cosmo]

I found it interesting in the papers that *** posted about the departments asking for 5-7% commercial impact on wild steelhead, that they acknowledge a 3-6% sport impact on wild steelhead (release mortality). They then place a cap on total mortality at 10%.
With that in mind, if a commercial fishery goes to 7% impact on steelhead in the main river, it only leaves 3%, the best case scenario, for sport anglers. Since commercials have the first "take"
of these fish, the only way to stay within 10% total on mortality is close monitoring of the sport fishery, and potential emergency closures of the spring sport fisheries, which would also cause a total waste of returning broodstock fish.
I forgot the thread's name now, but the links *** put up will shed a lot of light on the topic.

[ctflyfish]

Bill Bakke - author, fisher, conservationist, etc. is a supurb warrior in the fight to save wild fish. He is right on the mark on this issue. In fact, WDF&W's own data, which I verified last week, shows that if the commercial kill goes to 7% it should drive the ESA listed South Toutle Wild Steelhead to extinction. Along with them should go those of Germany Creek, Abernathy Creek, Mill creek, etc.

[garyk]

The bottom line is Bill Bakke has most likely spent more time than anyone else, living or dead, working outside of a government agency for the conservation of the Northwest's salmon - especially Columbia River stocks.

At times people don't like the message 'cause sometimes the truth's painful and people prefer not to hear it. And this truthful message has constantly irked the managing agencies - as we'll see in this immediate and latest instance.

We could sure use more people like Bill Bakke - warriors for salmon (and fewer whiners )

[garyk]

Coincidentally, today’s (Tues) Oregonian (pE6) reports -

“Federal biologists have reported that many wild spawning groups are not reproducing quickly enough to achieve population growth. Their report filed in October.....said population growth rates remained NEGATIVE (my emphasis) for nearly all spawning groups of chinook and steelhead in the lower Columbia...”

These are the very same steelhead that ODFW and WDFW are proposing to increase the allowable commercial kill on by as much as 300%.

I’ve always been a big supporter of ODFW. I’m thus very disappointed in Steve King’s giveaway to gillnetters. I cannot recall the last time I’ve seen such an irresponsible action come out of the Fish Division.

And all because Steve King is advocating for gillnetters, a group who refuse to give up their outdated, archaic and damaging method of fishing.