Recently there’s been reporting on the high cost of fish runs going by Bonneville Dam. First let me state, I am a Columbia River gillnet fisherman. It’s true that no one wishes to catch the last fish, but in the Columbia we are losing the numbers game.
The seals and sea lions are regulated by the federal government and it seems like that policy will never change. Currently, there is a plan to rid Oregon and Washington of the gillnet fishermen. The utilities are paying a high price to get salmon over the dam but no one is even taking notice of the predators eating 24/7. Last year I alone lost 50-some spring chinook to these predators. The fishery department was watching us the whole time, trying to get native fish to take samples from.
Even after we lose our livelihoods the predators will still be there. Something needs to be done. Maybe all those people who wanted us out of the water can write their congressmen and accomplish something.
