A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
April 10, 2008
3. Watersheds
SALMON ISSUES:
Salmon fishers brace for a tanking season - Contra Costa Times
Salmon fishermen's fate decided today - Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Decision on salmon fishing ban due today - Sacramento Bee
QUAGGA MUSSELS:
Casitas to allow boats, but with stringent rules; Quarantine's purpose is stop invasive mussels - Ventura County Star
SALMON ISSUES:
Salmon fishers brace for a tanking season
Contra Costa Times – 4/9/08
By Mike Taugher, staff writer
Not this year. Not when the estimated number of salmon off the
Instead, Platt was cleaning his boat and putting away gear after three days of crabbing. Like fishers up and down the West Coast, he is trying to navigate a disastrous season. His plan: keep crabbing as long as possible and then improvise.
This time, he did well. He hauled in 1,500 pounds of crab and fetched a good price.
"We're pretty happy about that. Price is getting better," he said.
For salmon, the other part of Platt's business, the outlook is bleak.
A federal panel meeting this week in
The most permissive of the three options being considered would allow commercial anglers in
But most anglers appear resigned to a full closure. And early indications are next year could be even worse.
"This could be the end of the salmon fishery on the West Coast," Platt said. "All these boats are going to go away in the next year or two."
In
Randy Thornton, a charter boat owner and captain in
"I've got a boat with not much to do,"
For consumers, the unprecedented crash of California's salmon fishery means wild salmon will be harder to find and more expensive. Most of it will come from
The reason is a sweeping decline in salmon runs from
Researchers say a natural fluctuation in ocean conditions is driving West Coast populations down, but other scientists and regulators say the shift in ocean temperatures and currents does not sufficiently explain the severe and unprecedented collapse.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council has drawn up a list of about 50 potential explanations to be studied.
Among the potential contributing causes: water diversion from the Delta, pollution, sea lions and other predators and problems with hatchery production.
"It would be great if it was just ocean conditions because then you'd know they'd be getting better," Platt said.
"That's not alarming to a fisherman. You have up-and-down years with crab, too."
For
Two years ago, they were nearly shut down because of concerns with the
A closure this year would be more costly because it could be more sweeping and because it is expected to more severely affect recreational fishing, which was spared the worst of the 2006 restrictions.
"It's going to be large, but I don't know what that number is," said David Goldenberg, director of the California Salmon Council.
A recent analysis done for the California Fish and Game Commission estimated the loss of recreational ocean salmon fishing would result in a $167 million loss to the state economy, equivalent to the loss of about 1,400 jobs.
That figure does not include the impact of closing the commercial salmon fishing season or river salmon fishing.
In such ports as
"It's going to be a major hit to the town," said Jim Caito, co-owner of Caito Fisheries Inc., one of the state's largest fish processors.
Salmon make up 35 percent to 40 percent of his company's revenues, and Caito said there is no other fishery that can be tapped to make up for the loss.
For consumers, Caito predicted higher prices for wild salmon, which will come mostly from
Last year, commercial salmon boats brought 1.5 million pounds of salmon to
Salmon fishermen's fate decided today
Santa Rosa Press Democrat – 4/10/08
By Robert Digitale, staff writer
Sport and commercial fishermen expect the worst today when federal salmon regulators decide whether to allow any ocean salmon fishing this season off
“I think they’re going to shut the whole coast down,” said Roger Thomas, president of the Golden Gate Fishermen’s Association, a group of charter boat operators.
The federal Pacific Fishery Management Council is meeting today in
The council is expected to ban both sport and commercial catches off
Federal officials have said they must restrict fishing because of a record-low salmon run expected this year from the Sacramento River, historically the most productive river system for
The specific time of the decision was not known, but was expected by evening. #
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080410/NEWS/49679449/1033/NEWS&template=kart
Decision on salmon fishing ban due today
By Matt Weiser, staff writer
Federal fisheries managers meeting in
The
The Pacific Fishery Management Council on Thursday will select from a slate of grim options for the commercial season that begins May 1. The worst option bans all fishing. Others allow a limited catch of salmon during drastically narrowed seasons.
Even under the best scenario, the catch would be reduced more than 90 percent, likely driving up salmon prices for consumers. Already, some markets have reportedly raised their wild-caught salmon prices in advance of the decision to more than $30 per pound.
The council's vote amounts to a recommendation to the National Marine Fisheries Service, which sets final rules for the season and almost always agrees with the council. But if the council calls for even a limited fishery, a special administrative ruling by the service will be required because the chinook's estimated population falls below a critical management target.
The California Fish and Game Commission is expected to follow with similar cutbacks or closures in state waters, which extend out three miles, and in Central Valley rivers. #
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/851795.html
QUAGGA MUSSELS:
Casitas to allow boats, but with stringent rules; Quarantine's purpose is stop invasive mussels
By Zeke Barlow, staff writer
Fishermen let out a collective cheer Wednesday after
A proposal passed by the Casitas Municipal Water District will implement a system of locks and tags that is designed to allow local fishermen to use the lake while still ensuring boats are not contaminated with invasive mussels.
"They are excited," Larry Elshere said of the local fishermen who have been missing the plump bass for which the lake is famous. Though the system will take a few weeks to get into place, it was still good news to Elshere. "I needed to get back on the water."
Elshere helped develop the new protocol that boat owners will have to undergo before being allowed back onto the lake.
The lake was closed to outside boats last month in an effort to protect it from quagga and zebra mussels, which can be transported to lakes on boats. Once in a body of water, they can severely damage water delivery systems and change the ecosystem of the lake.
Under the new rules, every boat will have to go through an inspection at the lake to make sure the live wells where fish are held, bait wells and boat plumbing are completely dry. Exactly how lake officials will determine that the plumbing is dry is still being determined.
After a boat is deemed clean and dry, a lock will be placed on the boat and trailer with a tamper-proof ID tag on it. The boats then have to undergo a 10-day quarantine either on site or elsewhere. After the 10 days, boaters can return to the lake, where the tag will be broken and they can launch their boats.
At the end of the day, a new tag will be placed around the lock and fishermen can come to the lake as often as they like.
If they go to another lake or remove the lock and tag for other reasons, another inspection and quarantine will happen. Boaters have to pay a one-time $50 fee for the locks.
Anyone caught trying to tamper with the tags will be banned from the lake for one year. Anyone who goes to the handful of lakes that are infected with quagga mussels is subject to a 28-day quarantine.
"I've been told we have the most stringent decontamination process in the world," Park Services Officer Rob Weiner said.
Officials are still determining how do deal with kayaks, which generally don't have trailers to fasten a lock to.
It will be a few weeks before the inspection process begins, Weiner said. When the protocol is established, the district will call boaters on the existing list of people waiting to get into storage at the lake and set up appointment times when they can get their boat inspected. Anyone wanting to get on the list, which has about 240 people on it, needs to call 649-2233, ext. 7.
Part of the measure also allows for more boats to be stored at the lake.
George Boston applauded the new rules.
"Being denied access to the lake is a serious damage to my quality of life," he said. #
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/apr/10/casitas-to-allow-boats-but-with-stringent-rules/
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