CCA recently uncovered and brought to the attention of ODFW and WDFW staffs and the Fish and Wildlife Commissions that the departments continue to permit commercial gillnetting in a sanctuary established for struggling Columbia River sturgeon populations! Thus far the departments have refused to take action, providing yet another example of how broken our fisheries management system is.

The Columbia River sturgeon sanctuary is in effect from May 1st to August 31st and includes the 9 miles immediately below Bonneville dam. This area is closed to all recreational sturgeon angling (even catch and release) to protect spawning sturgeon, yet in 2011 the agencies permitted 10 days of gillnetting in the spawning sanctuary. During this timeframe gillnetters were even allowed to target and retain (sell) the sturgeon they caught.

While these gillnet seasons in the sanctuary primarily targeted summer Chinook, recent observer data confirms they actually encounter more sturgeon than Chinook, a by-catch rate of over 100%. Many of these sturgeon -- which are caught and discarded -- are oversize females laden with eggs. The best available science and information indicate that the stress caused by the sturgeon struggling for its life in a gillnet can cause them to reabsorb their eggs and fail to spawn. It is this very concern that lead to the harsh restriction on recreational angling in this area where they continue to allow gillnetting, which results in greater physical harm to sturgeon.

Recreational anglers willingly gave up a very popular oversize and keeper sturgeon fishery in this area several years ago to protect spawning sturgeon. It is appalling that our fisheries managers continue to allow gillnetting, one of the most destructive forms of harvest, in the sturgeon sanctuary. As you may know, Columbia River sturgeon populations have seen drastic declines. Please click on the link below to send a message to WDFW and the Commission demanding an end to this gillnet season.


Click the link below to log in and send your message:

http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/ccapnw/5cM8fgFb.aspx