Pretty sad to hear about things like that, I feel for you westcoasters. It is pretty pathetic that nothing can be done about the devestation that these tribal and commercial netters are doing to wild populations of Salmon and Steelhead. It does not seem that they will be happy until they kill off the last of them.

Kev:

What good is it taking part in the NOF process when A-holes like the Makahs just do what they want anyway?

Some way, some how, we need to get the feds involved in this. That seems like the only way we could get anything done in a situation like this. Of course I won't be holding my breath.

FYI

We can not lump all the tribes in with what the Makah Tribe did!

Stillaguamish Tribe is a great steward for the Stillaguamish River.

I just wanted to point out there service to Basin. Because I work with them on other projects and see this first hand.

Just received this E-Mail from one Watershed Group Member:

"I think this is another example that the current methods of management need improvement. It also shows that somebody at the commission needs to educate those out fishing about the basics of what not to do. I imagine that the other tribes that are impacted will have something to say about this rather than let a naive action hurt the positive efforts being implemented by other tribes."

I would sure like to know when the "season" started and if they are still fishing. January 10 was 3 weeks ago. The kill may be 40K by now.

Someone better dig up where these fish are being sold if possible so we can start a serious boycott of everyone down the line!!!! NO MORE PATRONAGE OF ANYTHING MAKAH>>>>>PERIOD!!!!!!!

These greedy mother****ers need to pay bigtime for this outrage!!!!

going to look into printing up BOYCOTT NEAH BAY bumper stickers.... anyone interested in any?

Lupo:

I'll take 2, please.

I'll pitch in a few bucks so we might also make some that say:

"Recind the Boldt Decision...while we still have fish left!"

Mike

One of my sources told me that the Makah were still fishing yesterday. He also said that a lot of the fish they take are "blackmouth" and there might be upwards of 50% hatchery stock. The fishery started about 20 years ago. The WDFW has programmed an annual season catch of 500 fish for the winter. The number is for the season and is not a quota. With the Puget Sound and Hood Canal wild chinook stocks being listed, 500 was a "safe" number. Obviously, the Makah fishery is market driven. It would be interesting to know who the buyers are....

I would like to see how this will impact our summer sports fisheries, in reduced days, quotas, or complete fisheries. This has gone on for to long, the WDFW has basically turned a blind eye or at best tried to play fireman, seeing what they can do after the fire has started to minimize the damage.

Is it viable for “US” the sports fisherman and those business that are connected with the sports fishing industry, SUE the Maka tribe for the loses of our fishing rights and moneys due to their negligence and the DFW for their gross mismanagement. I would be willing donate $ 200.00 right now and more in the future. I feel this is the only way we can get anything accomplished, through the courts.

Mikes comments

“Rescind the Boldt Decision...while we still have fish left!"

Might be the best effort we could make for the long run. I don’t know how or where to even start. Todd I hope you could shed some light on this.

We have the numbers

Number of sports fisherman vs. commercial vs. tribes

Greatest number of Dollars generated per fish.

We just need to harness these and the many others that I have not mentioned and make them work for us.

I, like many, have finally woken up and realize now that by just making sense and the correct thing to do, has no effect on what or how the decision to set allocations or fishing RIGHTS what so ever.


I am willing to put my TIME and what MONEY I can to fighting to get our RIGHTS back.

Enough is enough and I am ready to act, I just need to know how and with who.

I belong to the PSA and the RFA and will be asking how can we take this issue on in the courts. Hope to hear more about this very soon.

J.R.

Does my terrorist huntig permit apply to Indians?

Head Hunter: Not funny. Sorry...but that kind of statement perpetuates the attitude that all native people are bad...ain't so. Just a few.

The best way we can fight this issue is via PUBLIC AWARENESS.

If we ca let the non-fishing and ignorant of the facts public folks know what is going on, and back it up with the facts and data, then we begin a long process of changing the LAWS.

Public pressure and the lawmakers bowing to it will be what makes the change. We can all sit here and carp about it till hell freezes over, but until we take this fight into the MEDIA,a nd show the people of the COUNTRY (not just the western states) what is going on with the issues, then nothing will change.

While I hate gill nets, there is a MAJOR difference between non-native commercial fishers and the Tribes.

The non-native commercial must follow the laws, and are accountable for every fish they catch or kil.

OTOH, the TRIBES just thumb their noses at us all, and do whatever the hell they want to...just daring us to say something. Not one politician in this state has the brass ones to stand up to the tribes. NOT ONE!

Mike

I've sent my e-mail (copy below) to the Commission and Director Koenings and my state legislators letting them know that I am expecting an appropriate response from WDFW that will not impact the recreational fishery this year and in the years to come.


"I read the article in the Seattle Times about the “overharvest” by the Makah tribe in their winter Chinook fishery. It would be most unfortunate if the recreational fishers were to be impacted by the actions of the Makah commercial fishery. I would hope that there are avenues available to WDFW and the other co-managers which will ensure that the recreational fishery for this year and the years to come are not impacted. I’m assuming that you and the WDFW are making sure that such intentional actions, by any sport or commercial fishery, are properly punished."

The tribes and NWIFC are talking already. As mentioned earlier, this is one commercial fishery and we can't use a broad brush to paint our picture.

I sat down today at lunch to enjoy a few minutes of respite and grabbed the Times..First thing I turned to was Mark Yuasa's article on the Makah travesty. I just about shot out of my chair. My soup got cold while I scrambled on the cell phone. I could not believe that this was allowed to happen. The impact on sports fishers remains to be seen but it sure looks like we will take it in the shorts AGAIN due to overharvest by nets. I just can't believe it. And when I saw the date of Jan 10th...that being the date of the report of 20,00o fish reported....That is 3 weeks ago my friends!!! And they are still fishing!!! Pat Patillo from WDFW says he is going to contact the tribe to ASK them to stop fishing....ASK??? What the hell is going on over there at WDFW? Oh sure the tribes self-monitor the fishery so WDFW cannot be blamed for overlooking this HUGE "mistake". OH MY GOD!!!

This is the last straw for me. The tribes are running rough shod all over the WDFW, NOAA and the fishers of the state of Washington. This has got to be challenged.

Anyone who goes to Neah Bay this year for any reason should be singled out for ridicule by all concerned fishers. This cannot stand! That tribe is even screwing over the other tribes and the rest of the commercial fishers.

I can assure all of you out there that PSA and RFA will be all over this issue as will I be personally. This will have devastating effects on fishing for the 2005/2006 season.

I cannot stomach the OOPS crap anymore. OOPS we over harvested...OH WELL I guess the sports fishers will have to stop fishing...We have a right to 50% of the fish BLAH BLAH BLAH....The tribes are overstepping the Boldt Decision big time and WDFW and NOAA should be monitoring this stupid ruling to atleast make sure the tribes are not violating the spirit and the letter of the law.

BOYCOTT NEAH BAY

I agree garndpa. This cannot stand.

This is so pathetic it borders on insanity. I guess ol' Rich G doesn't look like a conspiracy theorist anymore, huh? CDSeattle and Rich are right............they've been fishing this "season" before and only THIS year did they harvest numbers like these? Yeah, sure. And monkeys just flew out of my ass.

Slab Quest is right. When you're firing off your emails, shoot one to the Times and let them know you appreciate Mark Yuasa's article. There is pressure on a paper to avoid these stories, so let them know you support the truth being told regardless of who it offends.

Anyway, I'm going to go slam my yam sack in a door. It couldn't be worse than this could it?

Lupo, I'll take one and I will also take one of those from ISO too, just let me know.....

Appalling!!!!

For years I have watched others criticize those speaking out against some tribes over harvesting practices....calling them "racist", or "conspiracy theorist"

If you think this is the only time a tribe has over harvested a resource on this scale, you are very naive

Any commercial entity that is self policing, and would benefit from under reporting numbers, so that they can continue to harvest, is asking for corruption.

It is good to see the truth come out in a paper like the Seattle Times.

I hope that this spurs some meaningful actions.

There are several things coming out of this: first, the only way to have an effect on the Makahs, apparently, is to shine the light of publicity on them. I've contacted the editor of my local newspaper, the Peninsula Daily News, forwarding Yuasa's story. Everyone on this thread should do the same with their local papers as well as the big regionals.

Next, we all should contact the TV station tip lines. The way I look at it, this is tantamount to theft of public resources....granted that probably won't hold much water in a court.

Everyone should write to the WDFW Commission as well as their state legislators. Gregoire should know of this as should Rossi (if she doesn't respond, maybe he will hold her feet over the fire). We should all contact the Makah tribal office.

This affects all salmon fishermen in the state, from the blackmouth fishermen in South Sound to the springer fishermen in the Columbia. It will take a better biologist than I to say for sure (I'm just guessing) but the milling/feeding grounds off Neah Bay contains stocks that shoot through to the Columbia and may well contain springers. If all of Area 6 is open to their fishery, then the Makahs are able to fish all through the Strait to Port Townsend. Those 20,000 fish (as of January 10) came from our blackmouth season and springer seasons.

If you don't catch much this year, you know who to thank.

Keith

I second the motion to thank Mark Yuasa for his courageous article. I know that very few incidents of tribal abuse get into print for fear of the race card being played. I have said for some time now that if we aren't diilgent the tribes will take over our fisheries and could be the only ones fishing> Well guys we have let it happen in spades this time. I know there is no way any individual can stop the rape of our resources at the hands of the tribes but someone better step up to the plate now because the Makahs have crossed way over the line. AND...they are still fishing and are not returning phone calls.

Again I say..if you had a trip planned for Neah Bay this year CANCEL IT NOW>>>>