Yesterday I was walking through the Pike Place Market, and noticed that two of the three fish stands were selling "Wild Washington Coast Steelhead" on their shelves.

After about five minutes of looking these fish over, I sadly came to the fact that these where indeed, WILD FISH!
One of the two fish vendors is the world famous “Pike Place Fish Market” (you know, the one that throws the fish).

I ‘m posting a link to their website, in hopes that you will send an Email explaining your dislike of the sale of “wild steelhead”.

Hopefully, we can sway them into not buying wild steelhead in the future…hopefully.


http://www.pikeplacefish.com/salmon.html

Sent:
"A large part of your marketing and appeal is the LOCAL flavor of your business. It’s a shame you have chosen to sell a struggling species like wild steelhead as table fare when it is unnecessary.

See if your conscience lets you post a sign over the iced display case that says “Soon to be listed as an Endangered Species on the ESA list. Eat it while you can.”

I am assuming you’re familiar with fisheries issues, and I don’t mean to come off as insulting, but the above is a fact. Please adjust your inventory to truly be a Northwest Company!"

Sent this to them:
"Hello,
I noticed when I was at the market the other day that you have Wild Steelhead for sale. I don't know if you are aware of the dire situation that Wild Steelhead are in. They are close to being listed on the ESA, and most of the local stocks in WA do not allow any harvest by sport fishermen or commercials. The few that do are in trouble as well. By your selling Wild Steelhead you are pushing them closer to the brink of collapse.
As a sport fisherman that supports the local economy it concerns me that a shop of your stature (being nationally known and a highlight of the Pike Place Market), would sell Wild Steelhead.
I have made purchases at your store many times and have had you ship salmon to family and friends acrossed the the country. I WILL NOT be a patron of your establishment while you have Wild Steelhead for sale. I will also let all of my friends know whether or not you decide to continue to carry Wild Steelhead.
I hope you will do some research about Wild Steelhead and no longer carry them. You can find out more info on them at http://www.wildsteelheadcoalition.org/ .
I look forward to being a patron at your store again in the near future and seeing Wild Steelhead recover.

Warmly,
Bryon Hart
Concerned Patron and Sportfisherman"

Thanks for bringing this to our attention Driftfishnw. I am surprised there are so few responses.

Me too.

Thanks for standing up for your wild steelhead

EM sent.

also sent a letter 6 years ago. Two years ago too with an email.
they will continue to buy those Quinault and Queets tribal netted wild steelies because it's legal for them to do so.
so my email not only encouraged not to sell but for them not to buy as well. if the store doesn't buy 'em, they don't have to sell 'em.

i've read the posts here flaming those anglers legally keeping their one wild steelhead. Why don't those flamers get on the Pike Place fish market? At the very least, PPFM is profiting from the sale of wild steelhead.

email sent...c

sent mine last nite, no response as of yet........

I mentioned this like a month ago, I thought this was common knowledge. Was it the place by the golden pig or whatever that is?

Ago, there it goes. I knew I wasn't the first to notice that. When I went they had about 10 or 15 adipose intact 15 or so lb. torpedoes laying eyes blank staring into your soul.

Emailed them, asked for a reply back.

time to call a couple stations and go picket PPM

Saw the same thing last weekend as well. Three pigs sitting on ice, adipose hiding under the ice that I scaped away. Really nice fish. Shame. The general public wouldn't know the difference but we do.

E mail sent.

This thread is missing something. Isn't this the time that someone changes this WSC thread to some other concern that they have with WSC with the mods blessing?

Good luck with your campaign.

Got this reply back
"Thanks for your feedback, we're open to it for sure. Just out of curiosity, where do you get your information? I want to know just because we here do our best to sort through as much of it as we can. Whether it's talking to our distributors, reading periodicals, or reading online blogs, we want to know as much about what we sell as we can. It's important to us to listen to the concerns of our community (i.e. you!) and then decide who we want to be as a company on these type issues. Let us know when you can!

~scott and the guys at Pike Place"

I sent them the link to the WSC site, where else should I send them for more info??

I recieved the same message, glad to see they are at least interested. Seems a visit from Todd if he has time, would go a long way...........

Email sent today:

Wild steelhead....might as well sell endangered tropical birds, perhaps a few stuffed eagles too! Cmon, we are quickly approaching a situation with these weak wild stocks where we may lose them...and you folks are advertising them for sale. Time to learn a bit about these beautiful and ever rarer fish....be nice to see you put up a sign helping others understand why you don't and won't sell wild steelhead.

I received the following response:

Thanks for your feedback, we're open to it for sure. Just out of curiosity, where do you get your information? I want to know just because we here do our best to sort through as much of it as we can. Whether it's talking to our distributors, reading periodicals, or reading online blogs, we want to know as much about what we sell as we can. It's important to us to listen to the concerns of our community (i.e. you!) and then decide who we want to be as a company on these type issues. Let us know when you can!

~scott and the guys at Pike Place

I got the same response as edgerat. Anybody want to educate them? Need to at least give them reputable sources that show the escapement goals are not being met.

I sent them the WSC website link with mine. Is there another good link they can go to for edumication ? ?

You seem to have all the answers when it comes to CCA.

Now what smart guy?