Lower Columbia gillnetters want more fishing; say experimental seine fishing a failure

Commercial gillnetters Thursday, Sept. 10, called for the two-state Columbia River Compact to cease the experimental seine fishery on the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam, saying that participation is low and will get lower as catch rates lag behind goals. They also demanded more fishing time. “It all circles back to the Kitzhaber plan,” according to Jim Wells, a lower Columbia River fishing advisor. “19,000 fish have been set aside for us for September. Last year we caught that in one opening. We just don’t have the impacts (allowable catches) anymore to function and you can blame Governor Kitzhaber for that. It’s really frustrating being the only group on the river not able to fish.” Read the rest here 09:37

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