This is the official news release from the campaign. Remember, the campaign includes ALL of the coalition partners involved in measure 81.

Their website: http://www.stopgillnetting.com/

The newest release:



Stop Gillnets Now Supports Governor's Gillnet Proposal


Last month, Stop Gillnets Now turned in over 140,000 signatures on a ballot measure to prohibit commercial gillnets on the lower Columbia River. We believe this tremendous grassroots effort from Oregonians across the state sent an important message: It’s time to protect the 13 species of threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead on the Columbia, as well as birds and other wildlife, from the impacts that indiscriminate gillnets cause.

In the wake of Measure 81 qualifying for the ballot, Governor Kitzhaber asked the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to undertake rulemaking on a proposal to remove gillnets from the mainstem of the Columbia River. Yesterday, the Fish and Wildlife Commission met by conference call to begin implementation of the Governor’s proposal. The Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously agreed to move forward with the rulemaking process.

Stop Gillnets Now greatly appreciates Governor Kitzhaber’s recognition that gillnets are a significant conservation problem on the only river in Oregon in which they are still allowed. We also appreciate his leadership on an issue that has for too long lacked the attention of our state’s leaders.
In yesterday’s hearing, ODFW staff recounted the commission’s unsuccessful attempts in the past decade to address the harm caused by gillnets on the Columbia River. It is a history dominated by the gillnet industry’s record of killing common sense, science-based reforms to their indiscriminate practice.
Undertaking a ballot measure campaign was not a decision made lightly, but our supporters believed it was the only way to break through decades of political inaction and enact real reforms to protect Oregon's wild fish and wildlife.

That Measure 81 has led the ODFW Commission to consider real reforms to address the harm caused by indiscriminate gillnets through a new rule making demonstrates real progress. While differences remain between the Governor’s proposal and Ballot Measure 81, both share the same long term vision: removing gillnets from the lower Columbia for the betterment of endangered wild fish, wildlife and our economy.

We believe that the Governor’s vision, if adopted and implemented as proposed, represents a significant milestone in the management of fisheries on the lower Columbia.
However, the gillnet industry, in a statement released this week, stated their opposition to the Governor’s vision and this process. In fact, they base their opposition in part on their continued desire to catch wild fish on the main stem of the Columbia River - the very fish Measure 81 is designed to protect. We have serious concerns that the ODFW commission will not be able to withstand their political pressure.

The Stop Gillnets Now campaign commits to support Governor Kitzhaber's rule making process in order to advance the common-sense goal of removing gillnets from the lower Columbia. We are committed, as we have always been, to the cooperative spirit embodied in his proposal.

Now more than ever, Oregonians need to understand how indiscriminate gill nets harm wild fish and wildlife and why we must transition to more selective, sustainable fishing practices. The Stop Gillnets Now campaign will continue to undertake a public education campaign about the indiscriminate and deadly nature of gillnets and why gillnets do not belong in the lower Columbia River. The campaign will seek to actively engage our supporters and Oregonians across the state to ensure their voices are heard to make sure the Commission adopts the Governor's plan as proposed.