I believe it was Akenson who invoked the guiding (misguided?) premise

"we need to be looking out for Oregon's best interest, not Washington's"

She went on to say that since there was NO CONSERVATION benefit (same number of ESA fish die) associated with ANY of the options on the table, the choice was purely allocative, and therefor the commission should choose on the basis of what made more economic sense for Oregon, regardless of Washington's position.

Buckmaster and Anderson were quick to jump on the bandwagon, and before you knew it, the discussion shifted to querying staff about how to conduct Oregon's own commercial fishery in its own waters.

CLEARLY, the audiovisual record will demonstrate the utter disregard these commissioners for the Interstate/Congressional Compact.

Out of touch... out of step... out of time.

Buckmaster and crew need to be taken to task for their misguided and illegal antics.

At the same time, Oregon shows that "ESA management" is about killing the maximum number of listed fish allowed, just like in arguments between WA and the tribes. Conservation be **ckd.

The CCA response to the OFWC vote...

Though disheartening, Friday’s ODFW Commission decision to allow the permanent continuation of gillnetting in the mainstem of the Columbia River was not completely unexpected. We should all be outraged that Oregon Governor Kate Brown did not honor her commitment to fully implement the Columbia River reforms by ensuring that Commissioner Buckmaster worked within the bounds of the reforms and Senate Bill 830.

Instead of keeping her promises, Governor Brown allowed Buckmaster to undo the reforms, effectively breaking 100 years of Columbia River co-management with Washington State, as well as multiple laws, including SB830. In doing so, Governor Brown has raised serious doubts about her commitment to fisheries conservation and hundreds of thousands of recreational anglers (and voters) across Oregon.

CCA leadership is currently evaluating and considering a variety of possible actions following Friday’s decision. We will not be deterred in our resolve to end the use of gillnets on the Columbia. CCA has acted in good faith and trusted others would do the same. After yesterday's vote, it's clear that integrity and a desire to do the right thing for wild salmon and steelhead stocks is not a priority for the majority of the ODFW Commission and it is time to change our approach and amplify the volume.

As conservationists and stewards who enjoy and respect Oregon’s natural resources, it is more important than ever to stick together and fight for the protections these magnificent fish deserve. As sports fishers, it’s time to insist that we realize what was agreed to in 2012, demand what we have been promised and compromised for, and have already paid for! It is not a question of if, it is only a question of when. CCA Oregon is committed today more than ever to ensure that the future of the Columbia's salmon and steelhead fisheries are bright and that our grandchildren will have the opportunity to catch them. Stay tuned! It’s far from over.

Dave Schamp
CCA Oregon Chairman

The NSIA response...

ODFW Commercial Fish Commission

Late tonight, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 4-3 on an Enhanced Commercial Rebalance of the Columbia River reforms.

This decision violated a reasonable compromise the State of Washington passed last week, ignored recommendations from ODFW staff and broke a promise to over 400,000 anglers across Oregon and Washington. These actions were taken despite authors of the plan presenting evidence of its success and legislators, both Republican and Democrat, strongly encouraging commissioners to stay the course.

The Commissioners, lead by Governor Kate Brown’s appointees, voted to permanently leave gillnets in the mainstem and renege on the sportfishing priority. They allocated more fish to the gillnetters in the fall, which will pound on weaker stocks of steelhead and sturgeon and further cut into already short seasons for our industry. A panel of conservation groups (Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Trout Unlimited, Wild Salmon Center) all strenuously encouraged the Commission to stick to the conservation goals of the plan, but this fell on deaf ears.

Governor Brown’s Commission has thrown the river into chaos, put the ODFW agency budget at risk, showed a disregard for our relationship with the state of Washington Commission, and insulted anglers who have sacrificed both financially and with less opportunity. Their complete focus on a select few gill-netters, despite statutory language that includes the enhanced economics of the sports fleet, is beyond comprehension and explanation. Frankly, their actions suggest they care nothing for the average angler, but for a select group of gill-net fisherman and it's less than 200 licensees.

For the first time in over 100 years the two states will have non concurrent rules. ODFW staff expressed disbelief and concern about what to do. At one point ODFW asked how Oregon State Police would enforce a divide in the river and OSP had no comment. Are Oregon anglers required to purchase both Oregon and Washington licenses to fish the entire river? Or, more likely, will each side be forced to buy a license from their state and be required to only fish their side of the river. This has the potential to cost millions of dollars and jobs for the hard working men and women who make up the sport fishing industry. Not including the months of potential litigation between the two states.

Governor Brown promised and committed twice to CCA Oregon, NSIA, Steelheaders NW and NW Guides and Anglers that she was committed to making the Columbia River reforms a reality. Unfortunately, her appointees and Commission must not have gotten the message.

Much more to follow

The ANWS response...

BETRAYED!


We as sport anglers are shocked and outraged at the decision last evening by the ODFW Commission. Led by Governor Brown's appointments, the Commission voted 4-3 to abandon the bi-State Columbia River salmon fishing reform plan and put the interests of a few hundred part-time gillnet operators above over 400,000 of sport anglers.

The ODFW Commission has betrayed us. While we thank commissioners Finley, Bittle and Webber for standing up for the promises made to our community, commissioners Anderson, Buckmaster, Wolley and Akenson all rejected not only the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's reasonable proposal, but also its own staff's recommendation. Instead it has voted behind commercial industry commissioners Buckmaster and Anderson and their agenda to prop up an industry that refuses to evolve.

Compared to the agreement that should have been put in place this year, the Commission's decision is projected by ODFW to result in the loss of 11,489 sport angler trips per year, while increasing commercial fishing revenue by 44.5%. And the Commission voted to continue to exclude sport anglers from Young's Bay to give even more fish the commercial netters.

In addition, for the first time in 99 years, ODFW has decided to abandon working concurrently with Washington in managing fishing on the Columbia River. River management is poised to be thrown into chaos with conflicting rules from both states, bringing confusion to anglers, increased costs to our state police for enforcement, and potential litigation.

Ironically, ODFW's 2017 sport fishing regulations (along with past regulations) on p. 8 state:

"Money from the [Columbia River] endorsement will help fund the transition to eliminate non-tribal commercial gill nets on the lower mainstem Columbia River and provide additional salmon and steelhead for sport fishing."


That's now proven to be a big lie! But they still plan to take your endorsement fee money.

The ODFW Commission has shown it is not a friend of the sport angler and Governor Brown's appointments of Commissioners Anderson and Buckmaster, indicate a Governor and the majority of the commission that is grossly out of touch with a community that funds the bulk of its programs and partners with it to bring its mission forward.


Stay tuned as The Steelheaders are formulating our next steps and organized actions.