Salmon fishers show frustration

John Driscoll

The Times-Standard

April 2, 2008

EUREKA -- Grim-faced fishermen and business owners faced fisheries managers at a packed meeting on Tuesday night, voicing anger, distrust and hopelessness over the gloomy salmon season promised this summer.

Many pleaded with the Pacific Fishery Management Council at the Red Lion Inn to adopt the most liberal of three options it is considering, and even asked for more time on the ocean in the late summer. Some pushed the council to shut down fishing altogether this year, while pressing for solutions to prevent further affects of dams, water diversions, sea lions, hatcheries and other problems.

Former Trinidad tackle dealer Thomas Richardson said that all three options -- ranging from no fishing to 10 days of fishing -- are unacceptable. He argued that the council has mismanaged the fishery, and fishermen are paying for it.

”I think this whole situation has been a waste of time,” he said. ”You guys have had 30 years to get this straight.”

The council has blamed poor ocean conditions for the dramatic lack of salmon expected to return to the Sacramento River this fall. That's based on a meager run of 2-year-old salmon that came up the river last year, an indicator of what can be expected the following year.

Biologists have also pointed to intensive water diversions and habitat problems in the Sacramento , which has been the bread-and-butter stock of the fishing industry.

Several speakers warned about serious economic impacts from a closed or severely limited fishery just two years after heavy restrictions bbuckled the commercial and sport fishing industry.

”The majority of our clients are here to fish for salmon only,” said Brad McHenry from the View Crest Lodge and RV Park in Trinidad .

The federal government could pass an emergency rule to allow fishing this year, although it has signaled its reluctance to do that.

Eureka commercial fisherman Russell Miller said that the council's options for commercial fishing -- allowing 3,000 fish in each of three Northern California zones -- weren't realistic at all.

”Don't throw us these crumbs,” Miller said. “There are a whole lot of people who are going broke in the commercial industry.”

Some speakers said they weren't convinced that the council was making an accurate prediction of the abundance of salmon expected to run up the Sacramento .

Eureka attorney Stephen Rosenberg said he has been following the council for decades, and claimed it is always wrong when it comes to anticipated highs and lows -- with serious consequences.

He also brought up a simmering complaint that a program that brings young Sacramento River salmon to San Francisco Bay to be raised in pens was either shut down, or that the pens were damaged, in 2005.

Rosenberg also argued that sport fishing should be allowed this year.

”We can't really make a dent in this population,” he said.

The only option that allows fishing would spread 10 days over the three major summer holidays. Several people said that could prompt fishermen to head out to sea even if the weather is rough. It would also cause major traffic jams at boat launches, some said.

Retired fisheries biologist Roger Barnhart advocated that a punch card be used to allow fishermen to take 10 or 20 salmon total, but at anytime during the season.

The council will decide on the shape of the season next week in Seattle , and that will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service for approval or modification.

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Source:  http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_8779685