I would re frame it like this: the selective gear would decrease harvest of native fish as a % of total fish caught. It is really hard to convince me that that is ever bad. I know it is more complicated than that, but that reaches my gut.

Logically, the commercial harvest is a related but not dependent variable. Commercial harvest can scientifically and practically (maybe not legally) be set by limits other than ESA impact.

Maybe selective commercial gear down low, with hatchery fish harvested en mass at terminal fishery sites? As much as I hate the hatchery brats that shoot right back up to the hatchery (and don't hold in the natural spots in the rivers) maybe that is the best long term. (I can see it now, reserved fishing sites on the piers going out into Reiter ponds) and harvest weirs just above. Uff Da.

Let me be clear on at least one point, I ultimately think gill nets should be eliminated from the CR. The ESA mortality is just too high. The SAFE zones will prove out within a couple of years whether they will work as a "terminal" fishery.

Also, I think one of the elephants in the room is the 13% ESA mortality the tribal co managers are entitled to with the remaining 2% split between non tribal commercials and sporties. Maybe a state or fed buy back of permits is the way to go.

Good conversation, thanks.