Hi Coho,

One practice that I personally witnessed on Hood Canal that was disturbing was that many of the Skokomish tribal members were netting Chum salmon. They would let the dead bucks fall to the bottom, not even bothering to boat them, just untangle them from there nets and then let them fall. All hens were immediately stripped of their eggs and then tossed overboard, wasting all of the meat. The reason that they only wanted to save the eggs was because that was where all of the money was. These eggs were being sold to the asian market. I know because I helped them handle part of the transaction as a business banker. It personally made me sick, but I can't choose my client's lines of work.

The good news is that this year, buyers will be required to purchase the carcass as well as the eggs. If they can't account for the carcass/egg match up, they face fines and prosecution.

I have no problem with the tribes fishing for subsistence purposes, even for their extended families, but traditionally salmon and shellfish were not a large part of their trade between tribes. I feel that if they wish to fish commercially that they get a license like all of the other commercial fishers.

I have talked with many tribal members from the Skok, Nisqually, Chehalis, and Squaxin tribes as a part of business. Mostly fishermen, and one thing that I ask them about is species targeted. They target the species that bring them the most money with the least amount of effort. There are many divers who go after goeducks, and they quite openly state that they sort underwater. This leads to a lot of wastage, as once a goeduck is dug up it becomes vulnerable to predation unless replanted. Few say that they replant.

The unfortunate part of it is that I can't report the issue because of client confidentiality. It sucks.

Those are some of the facts as I have seen them firsthand, or been told firsthand by those who commit these offenses.

Andy