SALEM, Ore. — The future of commercial fishing on the Columbia River is now in the hands of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission after a measure to ban gillnets failed on Election Day.
The commission faces the tough task of mediating a longstanding conflict between commercial and recreational fishing interests by the end of the year. After years of stalemate, Gov. John Kitzhaber has asked the commission to come up with new commercial fishing regulations that phase out the use of gillnets on the Columbia.
Gillnets snag fish by the gills and are the primary method of commercial fishing on the Columbia. Critics contend that they’re cruel to fish and slow the restoration of salmon populations because they can’t differentiate between endangered fish and targeted species. But commercial fishermen say gillnets have been used for centuries and the controversy surrounding them is drummed up by sport anglers who want to eliminate competition for salmon.
After unsuccessful attempts to persuade the Legislature to ban gillnets, sport-fishing and environmental groups went directly to the people with a ballot initiative that spooked commercial fishermen who feared being put out of business. They spent nearly $700,000 but ultimately abandoned the effort after Kitzhaber announced his bid for a compromise.
