I tend to not believe this theory as I have fished in Hood Canal amongst the seiners and find them less disruptive/effective than a gill net... A gill net streched across a river is a gauntlet that permanently block access up or down stream. All the netter needs to do is run up and down the net pull the fish out. The seiners need to circle the fish then close up the net. While they are closing the net the rest of the river is opening up for fish to pass thru and around. Fish are also able to see a seign more readily than the gill net and possibly avoid it. They also bounce off them if they hit them...

Given the size of the lower columbia and the relatively small amount of water that the nets can actually work I think you will find that alot more fish will actually get through.

also, If this were such a great deal for the commercial boats dont you think that they would also be rushing out to sign the petition?