Stew and I just got back from the ODFW meeting this evening in Cannon Beach. Essentially Lindsay Ball, Director of ODFW, and about a dozen of his commissioners came only to confirm that these hatchery closures are indeed for real. They are directives from Oregon Governor Kitzhaber's adminstration to cut out the 3 NW hatcheries. After questions, it was determined that Ball's administration had a lot of say in which 3 of 5 candidate hatcheries should get the axe. Despite lots of arguements from N. coastal fishers and guides, and several of us from the Portland Metro area, that this is both unfair and a major hit to that area's economy, it had no apparent affect on the commission's decisions.

But it's not all over yet - stay tuned.

RT