The Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) will host a public comment meeting at the Red Lion Inn, in Eureka on March 31 at 7 p.m. The PFMC will be here to hear the thoughts of local fishermen and business owners relative to three 2009 ocean salmon season options. The PFMC will be represented by Dan Wolford, who is the California Sports Fishing representative, and Chuck Tracy, PFMC staff officer responsible for salmon issues. The National Marine Fisheries Service will be represented by Mark Helvey.
This meeting is the opportunity for those that fish and those whose businesses service the fishing community to express their opinions directly to the government entities that will determine what our local ocean salmon season may be.
There are three options to comment upon: A 10 day season from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7 and two options that offer no fishing. While the first option does not offer much, it will provide a fishing opportunity and should have a positive impact for local fishing related businesses.
Two local organizations sent representatives to the March PFMC meeting in Seattle, Wash., to lobby for an opportunity to fish and will underwrite the attendance of representatives at the April PFMC meeting in Millbrae, Calif., at which the final 2009 salmon season will be determined. The Klamath Management Zone Fisheries Coalition, a group representing sport and commercial fishing interests as well as fishing dependent businesses and the Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers, Inc., have stepped up to get fishermen back on the ocean.
It is now time for all fishermen and business persons who depend upon an ocean salmon season to express themselves directly to the decision makers.
Ben Doane
Member KMZFC and HASA
Willow Creek