by Playfuls Staff |
10th March 2006
Looks like salmon fishers can really get worried right about now, as their favorite activity might soon become illegal. Thus, the fate of commercial and recreational fishing on the West Coast is on the line this week as [more] fishery officials meet to consider options for this year's season, including shutting down several lucrative salmon fishing grounds.
Salmon runs from California to Oregon are at risk of being closed, a result of severely reduced chinook salmon runs on the Klamath River in southern Oregon, reports AP.
Fishing off the Washington coast also could be restricted because coho in the Lower Columbia River recently were listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council, which is responsible for making fish-policy decisions for California, Washington and Oregon, took up these and other fish-management discussions Monday when it kicked off a week of hearings and meetings.
Council Executive Director Don McIsaac said he expects the salmon-fishing issue to take up the most time of any topic on the week's agenda. But he said the fate of krill, a tiny, shrimplike creature, and the possible relaxation of drift-net fishing restrictions will likely draw considerable attention as well.
The council was scheduled to take up the salmon fishing questions on Tuesday. The krill discussion is scheduled for Wednesday, and driftnet issues for Thursday.
A final decision on the salmon season will not be made until the council meets in April in Sacramento, Calif.
