To show support for
the local commercial salmon fishing industry, the Clatsop County commissioners
are organizing a rally on the steps of the state capital in Salem, Thursday at 11:30
a.m.
The commissioners
are inviting anyone in the salmon gillnet industry and their supporters to
attend the event. The state capital building is located at 900 Court St. NE in
Salem.
Representatives of
Clatsop County and the Salmon For All commercial fishing group are scheduled to
meet with Gov. John Kitzhaber prior to the rally.
The commissioners are
opposing a proposal from Gov. Kitzhaber that would prohibit gillnet fishing on
the mainstem of the Columbia River. Rules implementing the governor’s proposal,
which would limit gillnets to off-channel fishing areas in a three-year phased
process, are due to be considered by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission at
a meeting Thursday and Friday, Dec. 6-7 in Portland. The Washington Fish and
Wildlife Commission is scheduled to take up the rules at a meeting Dec. 14-15
in Olympia.
Gillnetters and
supports argue that the plan would threaten the livelihoods of many area
fishermen while accomplishing little toward the conservation of protected
salmon runs. Commercial gillnetters harvest at least half of their overall
catch in the Columbia channel, through a fishery highly regulated by state and
federal agencies.
On Nov. 28 the
county board of commissioners opened its regular meeting to testimony from
gillnetters and supporters regarding the proposed rules. Twenty-four citizens
offered input – an audio recording of the testimony is available online at www.co.clatsop.or.us.
The Oregon Fish and
Wildlife Commission will take up the gillnet plan beginning at 8 a.m. Friday,
Dec. 7 at the Holiday Inn-Portland Airport, Willamette Room, 8439 NE Columbia
Blvd., Portland. Public testimony will be taken at the meeting. For more
information go to www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission
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