Bardo,

As Smalma said, careful about playing the ESA card. It isn't playing so well on the Columbia R.

Todd,

This isn't a proposal to buy treaty fishing rights. It's a business proposition to buy fish at higher than the market price on the condition that the fish remain in the river and are not caught by treaty fishing. The money is probably the easiest part.

Not sure the gillnet lobby will be a problem. RT and CFM are gonna' own all the licenses and boats via willing buyer/willing seller negotiations. And we keep the hatchery people busy raising fewer fish at lower densities making healthier smolts.

No trucking to Celilo II! This has got to be authentic! The ladder sorting devices shunt the marked fish into constructed channels where they swim upstream to the falls fishing area. And yes, since there is no ESA impact, tribal harvest allocations actually increase! If it becomes a tourist attraction, Indians can charge us a dollar or two to take their photo and make even more money. The profits go to the individual fishermen who dip net their catches.

And this haze was brought to me by Ravenswood North Coast Zinfandel.

Maybe tribal guides and treaty allocations have merit. It would produce more cash, but I don't know if treaty fishermen would want to guide. It's harder work than set netting, and they have to put up with fishermen they may despise.

Tangle nets can sorta' work, but I believe it's a 2nd rate solution. There is still unnecessary incidental mortality.

Smalma,

WSR does 2 things: 1) escapement insurance against inacurrate run forecasts; 2) released fish are available to be caught a 2nd time. Low harvests (or incidental mortality) and habitat protection & restoration = key to maximizing wild steelhead populations.

I recommend buying a tribe's prospective commercial catch based on the run forecast and re-adjusting up or down the following season.

Divying $ among fishermen is a problem, but I don't underestimate the tribe's ability to solve a problem that is a better deal than what they now have.

And you're right. The legislature isn't easy, but at least they can be bought. I also don't underestimate their ability to fabricate a solution that works for fish and the fishery if they benefit - votes, maybe?

Thanks for your interest and repsonses, and keep 'em coming if you think of more. It's gonna' take out of the box thinking to create workable solutions that satisfy peoples' and the fishes' interests.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.