"Given the fact that each pound of recreationally caught fish is worth around $ 106.00 to the economy .. when you factor in the amount anglers spend on boats, fuel, transportation, tackle and other fishing-related expenses, the author argues that fisheries management should favor public access over large-scale, unsustainable - and less profitable - commercial fishing practices."

I think I read somewhere that they were only getting $0.35 a pound on Monday when they were netting the columbia. Tule kings brought $0.00. A difference of $0.70. With a state that cares more about the money than the fish do you think they're getting some kickbacks from them or what?

I have never figured out or understood why the powers to be insist on giving the ground they do to the comercial industry here in this still pristine state. It has to be legal angles that we do not see or understand I do not know.

The wdfw booth at the sportsmen shows this year was handing out info breaking down just how far the sportsmens dollars go.I could only wrinkle my nose,wondering where they were headed with this????This has been common sence to many a small comunity such as Sieku and hansville,to list just a couple of close one's.But the comercials have always gotten the pick of the crop and when the question of run health comes to light it is the sportsmen that loose and they are the ones racing around spending every exrtra dollar on supplies etc.The tourism angle could be HUGE if they would just start working for the people of the state instead of the political banter.

I guesss the first step is up to the voters to ban the nets.But as orginized as the sporties are in wash that wil never happen.Not without petas help

federal and state laws mandate viable commercial fisheries. So we prop them up as long as they want to keep going out.

not to mention that all them billions of dollars spent to help restore esa protected fish, that jus get caught in a net somewhere on the big c, they were catching 2 wilds per hatchery last year, wonder with all the mandatory fish clippings these next few years, it will be interesting to see how many wild fish there really are left..

But as long as the sportsmen keep fighting among themselves over "important" issues like:

single hook versus treble, barbed versus barbless, fly fishing versus tackle, bait versus artificial, and last but certainly not least snagging boot salmon at terminal fisheries,

WE GET WHAT WE DESERVE!

ET, well said. Our efforts are sometimes headed down or in the wrong direction. I am not a fan of the snagger. But if given the choice I would rather have a few people snagging fish than see the commercial and/or indian nets scoop up thousands of salmon in one might swoop of the gill net. All inland and/or or river netting should be banned.

"federal and state laws mandate viable commercial fisheries"

Grandpa2, I've never heard it put quite that way, but now that I have it really is a much more ominous picture.

Is there legal language that provides for non-native commercial catch *in lieu of* sport catch, if necessary?

Or are you speaking specifically of the native American treaty rights?

Or are you just making that statement based on the tendencies of the lawmakers to cater to the stronger lobby?

FWIW, I'm not trying to counter your statement, just wondering where it's basis is.

From the same article in the April 2003 Salt Water Sportsman Ken Hinmam states "From a purely economic standpoint, commercial and recreational fishing contribute roughly the same dollar amount to the economy: about $28 billion. But commercial fisherman take 36 times the amount of fish that anglers do.....

I wonder how many people each industry actually provides fish for?

Just another piece to be considered, unless you're for the "if they can't catch one, they can't have one" camp.

Remember what Mark Twain wrote:

" there are lies, damned lies and statistics in that order"

I guess I'm not as much against commercial fishing as I am against non-selective commercial fishing gear. If the commerical guys/gals went to a more selective gear that would allow them to keep hatchery salmon while releasing the wild fish unharmed, both recreational fishing and commerical fishing might co-exist more peacefully than they do now.

So what might that non-selective gear be? Trap nets, maybe a fish wheel (now that would be a sight.....), maybe beach siening (with horses). Those are probably not overly practical alternatives but they are selective. They would allow the commercial folks the opportunity to harvest hatchery coho and spring Chinook exactly up to their allotment without harming wild fish.

Maybe someday, although it would probably necessitate a change in State law since, I believe, those methods are currently outlawed. But only because the gill netters convinced the State legislatures to ban them about 70 years ago.

So before we bash the commercials folks too much, ask yourself whether it's the gear or the activity that you object to. To me, it's the gear.

cohoangler,

There was no gill netting in Washington 70 years ago. There were a lot of seiners. The commercial catch today is mostly taken by seiners.
The most intense commercial fishery in the world is the gillnet fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The salmon stocks there are all healthy. ????????

It's that way up in Canada also.
I've always wondered...

Why do they shut down the sportsmen fishing when they are worried about not enough fish returning, but allow the commericals 1 more day open??

It's as the IDIOTS running the fisheries don't relize sportsmen put more $ in ecomony than the commericals do.

This may sound whackey, but here is my logic.
The demand for commercial fishing is to supply the market with fish.
The demand for sport fishing is for enjoyment and fresh fish.
Not every fish lovers like to catch their own fish.
They may not have the time to go fishing.
So to balance out the budget and the resources, how about allowing fisherman to obtain multiple punch cards of their friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, etc...
This way a good (or lucky) fisherman can catch fish for the card holders.
Its a win win situation; except for the commercial fisherman.