Quote:
Originally posted by fishmasterdan:
Who cares how it is funded. The bottom line is they produce the best steelhead returns in the state year after year. They commercial net the steelhead and it hasent had an impact on the great returns. The people that manage this fishery should manage ALL the river hatcheries they have proven year after year they know what they are doing and how many fish they can harvest. GOOD JOB!!!!
Do a little research and you will find that the current Wild stock on the Quinault has been in decline for the past 20 years. Infact the current wild stock is not geneticly native to the system due to the hatchery practices (its has the heinze 57 of steelhed). It has the most geneticly degraded wild stock in the state and is thought that the true native stock of the Quinault system is gone.

No doubt the Quinault is a factory for harvest. Thats what the Quinaults manage it for and use it for.

It is very clear that the #1 priority in the Quinault is not for the well being of the native stocks. The #1 priority is massive production of hatchery fish for harvest.

I am more concerned about the Wild fish and their future then my personal oportunity so in my opinion because of what I believe the Quinaults do a very bad job in manageing the Quinault river.

Now if all you care about is numbers of fish and personal oportunity regardless of where they came from then the Quinaults do a great job and you belong fishing the Quinault river.

Is the Quinault what you would call a success or a disaster? I gues taht depends on what your values are. huh