Salmo,

I read a report from the ODFW that estimated their salmon production costs at about $40 per fish. What wasn't made clear in the report, however, was how their costs were calculated. Was it derived from the total operating expense of the ODFW (production, enforcement,management etc), or were these strictly production costs. From the numbers, I'm guessing that it was the previous. Wasn't it stated that the Reiter Ponds facility could be funded for 150K/year? If that's the case, then I think their cost estimates per fish might be exaggerated.

In any case, that just illustrates how ludicrous the commercial net harvest of these fish is. Paying 10 bucks for a fish that cost $40 to produce? They must have missed their ECON 101 course at school. I feel our elected reps have an obligation to maximize the revenue generated by the use of this state's resources. They shouldn't sell an acre of land for $5,000 if there's a willing buyer at $10,000. And they shouldn't allow the harvest of fish that cost $40 to produce, if more than $40 can't be generated.

I could go on further about fixed and variable costs and how that should be calculated in the per fish price, but that's getting a little further in to this than I was looking for.

I'll just say this, as long as the Navy can spend $80 million each on an aircraft that has trouble landing on a carrier deck (where the hell else would the Navy land a plane?), then I don't feel bad about my tax dollars being spent to produce fish at a loss. It doesn't have to be that way, though. Can you say, "Nets out, lines in"? But until our lawmakers grow a spine and stand up against the commercial fishing lobby, that's not going to happen.


I guess that's about enough of that. Good topic, though, Salmo. Thanks......


Fish on.........

[This message has been edited by Dan S. (edited 06-29-2000).]