Contact:
Bruce Polley, CCA Oregon
(877) 255-8772 *
info@ccapnw.org
Liz Hamilton, NSIA
(503) 704-1772 *
nsializ@aol.com
April 28, 2015
Groups Launch Campaign against Governor Brown’s Nomination of Long-time Commercial Gillnet Lobbyist and Advocate to the Fish and Wildlife Commission
(Portland, Ore.) – Today, organizations representing Oregon’s recreational fishing community met with Governor Kate Brown and requested that she withdraw her recent nomination of Bruce Buckmaster to serve on the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission. For the past decade Buckmaster has served as a lobbyist, spokesman and chief strategist for the commercial gillnet industry. The groups delivered a letter from five organizations representing anglers, guides and conservationists outlining their opposition to his appointment.
Since the Buckmaster nomination was made public last week, the groups have kicked off a grassroots campaign to block the appointment in the Oregon State Senate. The effort has generated thousands of letters and phone calls to legislators asking them to oppose the appointment. The Senate Rules Committee is expected to consider Buckmaster’s nomination at a May 14 hearing on gubernatorial appointments. The group letter directly spoke to issues of potential conflict of interest:
“While we don’t question Mr. Buckmaster’s knowledge and expertise in fish and wildlife issues, we do have serious concerns about his ability to effectively represent the public interest of the state as required by ORS 496.090(6), particularly on the highly-charged Columbia River fishery issues that dominate much of the Commission’s time. There are legitimate questions about his ability to take an objective, open-minded approach to dealing with these issues and the recreational fishing community that represents a key constituency – and primary source of revenue – for the Department of Fish and Wildlife”
Buckmaster has been outspoken in his efforts to reverse the Columbia River gillnet reforms that were adopted by the Oregon and Washington fish and wildlife commissions in 2012 to transition away from the use of gillnets in the river’s mainstem:
“A central figure in the long-running debate over Columbia River commercial gillnet harvest practices, Mr. Buckmaster’s views on this issue are strongly felt and rooted in the years of acrimonious debate.”
“Both states have adopted a comprehensive plan to accelerate this transition and improve the economic, social, and conservation benefits of Columbia River commercial and recreational fisheries. While work remains to ensure the plan is a success, Mr. Buckmaster and the industry association he helps guide have adamantly opposed, by every means available to them, the types of reforms adopted in the plan.”
The nomination comes at a time when ODFW is seeking legislative approval of recreational fishing license fee increases of 33%-93% to balance ODFW’s budget. Any fee increase would only exacerbate the funding inequities that currently exist between the recreational and commercial sectors:
“Recreational anglers generated over $60 million in revenue during the current biennium. The new $9.75 Columbia River basin recreational fishing surcharge is on track to generate $2.5 million per biennium to fund the enhancement of Columbia River fisheries. This compares to about $500,000 received from the commercial gillnet industry.”
The groups also shared how the appointment is being viewed by the recreational fishing community, which already has had a lack of representation on the Commission:
“This appointment is already igniting a major controversy amongst the 11,000 individuals employed in the Sporfishing Industry, and their customers, the over 600,000 individuals who purchase the fishing licenses that fund ODFW’s conservation and fishery management programs.”
“We are also concerned about the effect this nomination will have on the balance of the Commission, which already includes one strong advocate from the commercial fishing industry. As you may know, the Commission lacks anyone with expertise in the recreational fishing industry.”
The groups are hopeful that the concerned voices of tens of thousands of Oregonians will convince the Oregon State Senate to reject confirmation of the appointment so all parties can work together to identify an individual that will bring balance and objectivity to the Commission.
The letter can be viewed here.