C alifornia Fishermen Target Water Policies

By Dan Bacher

June 26, 2007

California recreational anglers are launching an all out campaign to reverse the water policies that are destroying the historic fish runs of Northern California . In the past five years State and Federal water management on the Klamath River and in the California Delta have decimated millions of salmon, striped bass, steelhead, sturgeon and other species.

Seasons have been slashed, bag limits have been reduced and fishing has been stopped in many cases in order to avoid to avoid further impacts to our fishery resources. The recent surveys that show the delta smelt is rapidly headed for extinction because of the huge increases in delta pumping have set off new alarm bells. Fishery experts conclude that the end for many popular species is rapidly approaching unless dramatic recovery steps are taken now.

Recreational fishermen are now fighting back. Delta lawsuits have been filed targeting illegal water pumping that imperils Delta smelt, winter run chinook, spring run chinook and other species. Judges in two separate jurisdictions have agreed that laws have been broken and emergency steps must be taken to avoid further fishery damage. On the Klamath River , recreational anglers, Indian Tribes and commercial fishermen are pushing for removal of four hydroelectric dams in the current PacifiCorp hydro relicensing process in order to restore salmon and steelhead runs.

“The catastrophic collapse of Delta fisheries has pushed fishermen, fishing businesses and fishing groups to the limit,” said Bill Jennings, Executive Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. “We will take whatever legal or political steps are necessary to prevent these fisheries from plunging into extinction. I urge every fisherman and all those who care about protecting natural resources to get involved.”

Fishermen are also taking on the political battles. There are 2.4 million sport fishermen in California and over 1 million reside in Northern California .

Recreational fishing is big business in the state. California is second only to Florida in sales of fishing equipment. The activity generates $4.9 billion of economic impact and supports 43,000 jobs which pay $1.2 million in salaries and wages. The activity in fishing dwarfs other outdoor activities like hunting, bicycling, and golf. A recent national survey shows that 93.3% of Americans support recreational fishing.

Early in 2007 a coalition of groups started a campaign called Water For Fish. It requests action from State and Federal legislators to solve the water problems of the Klamath River and the delta. Over 14,000 supporters have signed petitions and letters to the legislators. The list of those demanding action grows every day. Supporters can sign up online at www.water4fish.org or they can sign hardcopy petitions. The request includes the following items.

1. Removal of four dams on the Klamath River and increased water flows to restore the salmon populations.

2. A moratorium on any California Delta or Klamath water development project or water contract unless it can be proven it will have no negative impact on fisheries.

3. A moratorium on any increases in water exports from the Delta until full recovery plans are adopted, funded and are underway for those California fish listed under the Endangered Species Act.

4. Full funding and compliance with the provisions of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992 which was designed to protect and restore the fish of the Central Valley of California.

5. A freeze on any State or Federal government funding which would divert, allocate or increase any water diversions or construction of facilities which would allow these activities until all impacted fish runs show increases for at least five years in a row.

The following individuals and organizations support and endorse the Water For Fish program:

AFTCO Mfg. Co., AWR Sports, Big Rock Sports, Bodega Bay Sportfishing, Break Away Flashers, All Sports Distributors, Clipper Yacht Harbor, Coyote Bait, Elkhorn Bait & Tackle, Fred Hall Shows, Guns Fishing & Other, Hi’s Tackle Box, Intl Sportsmen’s Expo, Loch Lomond Live Bait, Mel Cotton’s, Outdoor Pro Shop, Outdoor Sportsman, P Line, Plano Molding, Pro-Troll, Salty’s Bait & Tackle, Seeker Rods, Sep’s Pro Fishing, Shimano, Smalley’s Wholesale, Swifty Mfg., The Boat House, The Fisherman’s Friend, Vance’s Tackle, Will’s Bait & Tackle, American Sportfishing Assn., Anglers Committee, Calif. Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Calif. Striped Bass Assn., Coastside Fishing Club, Federation of Fly Fishers, Isleton Chapter CSBA, Lodi Chapter CSBA, Kokanee Power, Modesto Chapter CSBA, Pacific Coast Fed of Fishermen’s Assn., Restore The Delta, Sacramento Chapter CSBA, Stockton Chapter CSBA,United Anglers of Calif., United Anglers of Southern Calif., West Delta Chapter CSBA, Small Boat Commercial Salmon Fishermen’s Assn, Bob Simms of KFBK Radio, Calif. Sportsman KHTK 1140, Craig Hanson, The Fish Sniffer, Western Outdoor News, Davis Boats, Friends of The River, Oceana, Calif. Dawn Sportfishing, Fish Hookers Sportfishing, Fish On Charters, Idaho Steelhead & Salmon Unlimited, Jim Cox Sportfishing Charters, New Sea Angler, Randy Pringle - The Fishing Instructor, Sea Turtle Sportfishing, Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce, Vacation Rentals USA

For more information, log onto www.water4fish.org

Dan Bacher is an editor of The Fish Sniffer , described as "The #1 Newspaper in the World Dedicated Entirely to Fishermen"

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