Heres some more info --

Early next year the States of Oregon and Washington will decide whether to allow the commercial net fleet in the Columbia mainstem to triple their steelhead mortalities while netting spring chinook. The decision will likely be made by the Commission in Oregon, but it is unclear what process Washington will be following. As of late last week, NOAA fisheries has not approved the states application for the increase, but I would be surprized if they said no. The commissioners and the Governor's offices need to hear from citizens about how ill advised this is. Please take a moment to write to the commission chairs and make a specific request to have all of the Commissioners recieve a copy. Please also send us a copy, to nsia.aaron@comcast.net, The information from the Wildsteelhead Coalation, The Association of Northwest Steelheaders and NSIA is pasted below, and attached in a formatt that can be printed front to back. After you have written to your Commission, get two of your friends and neighbors to write, and print out copies to take to work. Please call 866 315 NSIA if we can be of assistance.

Dear Friends of Steelhead where ever you may be:





Many of you are already aware that the States of Washington and Oregon have applied to NOAA Fisheries to increase the allowable impacts on ESA listed steelhead in the Columbia by the commercial fleet. The request is to raise from 2% to 6% the mortality cap on wild winter steelhead to give the commercial fleet the ability to have a higher by-catch of wild steelhead while they are netting Spring Chinook Salmon out of the mainstem.



Members of the sportfishing and conservation community are outraged. After all, there have been decades of conservation efforts and sacrifices made the sportfishing community that is paying off in healthier steelhead stocks. From leading the charge for selective fisheries, changing hatchery practices, habitat and hydro protections, sport fishers have fought for protective measures for wild steelhead. We did not do so to transfer the biological benefits of our efforts over to the commercial fleet to die in tangle nets. It's not fair.



Indeed, many of the stocks are still too fragile to be raising impacts. For example, WDF&W's own biologists suggest that the proposed increase would likely result in the extinction of the Toutle River wild winter steelhead. Furthermore, ocean conditions right now are extremely beneficial to wild steelhead. This is the time to invest the recent increase of wild ESA steelhead in recovery, not in increased mortalities!



Small communities throughout Washington and Oregon are reaping the benefits of steelhead fisheries that are selectively targeted on hatchery winter steelhead. Literally tens of thousands of angler trips are spent in pursuit of winter steelhead in the lower Columbia. ODF&W has estimated that an angler trip in the lower Columbia is valued at $138.00 per day. Sportfishing for winter steelhead occurs during an important window to help sustain year-round family wage jobs. Looking at the last several years of data, there are almost yearly examples where the commercial fleet over fished their preseason quota. This would shut down sport fisheries in the mainstem and in the tributaries, where smaller businesses depend upon winter steelhead.



You must do three things right now!

1) Write (via fax or mail) the Commission Chairs today!

2) Send the same letter to the Governor's office today

3) Pass this e-mail on to others on your list.

Remember to stay professional and polite, but be clear that this is not acceptable. You are welcome to call any of us with questions, or if you need help. We at NSIA would appreciate a copy of your letter sent to: nsia.aaron@comcast.net



Norm Ritchie, President, Association of Northwest Steelheaders

Todd Ripley, Vice President of Political and Legal Affairs, Wild Steelhead Coalition c_n_r_nates@hotmail.com 425-281-0571

Liz Hamilton, Executive Director, Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association

866.315. NSIA