http://www.fishermensnews.com/story/2012/11/01/todays-catch/setting-an-example/132.html

As we reported in this space last month, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber has asked the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to ban commercial gillnets on the main stem of the Columbia River.

Washington’s two candidates for Governor, Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna, as well as Washington’s current Governor, Christine Gregoire, have chosen not to comment on the plan’s closing of the valuable resource. However, three Washington State legislators who appear to take their responsibilities to their constituents more seriously are State Senator Brian Hatfield and Representatives Brian Blake and Dean Takko, who wrote the following letter to Governor Kitzhaber. Next month we’ll report on the results of their efforts.

Dear Governor Kitzhaber:

Although it may be unusual, we three Washington State legislators are contacting you to express our deep concerns about your proposal relating to commercial fishing on the Columbia River. We represent the constituency in coastal southwest Washington State. A good number of the people that we represent at Washington’s Capitol are commercial fishermen.

Respectfully, we believe that your proposal has been put forward with good intentions. However, we also believe that rather than help conservation, if implemented, your proposal will harm the fishery on the Columbia River.

Commercial fishing methods have undergone serious change in the recent decade. The fishery on the Columbia has been effectively managed for escapement and conservation. Your proposal will have no positive impact on conservation, despite what you may have been told. Commercial fishermen are doing an excellent job of complying with regulations. The real mortality numbers speak well for the commercial fishery.

These small businesses are probably the most regulated in the country. Many of these fishing families have been doing this .... http://www.fishermensnews.com/story/2012/11/01/todays-catch/setting-an-example/132.html