Jan 16, 2012

Our industry and recreational fishers are under attack in Olympia with the introduction of HB 2241, which will be heard in the committee on Environment chaired by Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D) (Dist 33) and a past supporter of our industry.  The bill is a well intended, but misguided effort by environmental and bird watching groups to ban the use of lead under 1 inch in length and 1oz in weight in all state waters.  Passage of this legislation would have very real economic consequences to our industry and recreational fishers.  According to the latest science the only risk to birds is if the lead is ingested.  Read More

Jan 16, 2012

ACTION ALERT:  Spring Chinook Allocation decreases to Sport and increases to Gillnetters!

Recent announcements by WDFW and ODFW staff indicate they will be moving to cut recreational sport fishing seasons on the Columbia River for spring chinook.  Specifically, for 2012 the harvest matrix the agencies use to allocate Spring Chinook ESA impacts in the Columbia decreases sport fisheries by nearly 17%! Last year, the sharing agreement for ESA impacts was 60% sport and 35% commercial.  This year the sport share of the ESA impacts decreases to 50% and the gillnet share increases to 45%!    Read More