The Columbia River Compact convened in a face-to-face hearing in Kelso, Washington at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 17, 2009. The hearing was to consider non-Indian recreational and commercial winter fisheries for white sturgeon and smelt. The most recent Joint State Agreement on management of sturgeon fisheries (2006-2008) was extended to include 2009, pending completion of white sturgeon management and conservation plans by ODFW and WDFW. A new bi-state accord on white sturgeon management awaits Commission guidance, which is scheduled to be taken up by the two Commissions at their respective February meetings.

Data gathered during the past year indicates a troubling decline in abundance for sublegal and legal sized sturgeon. Because of this, the states agreed that a reduction in harvest rates for white sturgeon in the Columbia River is probably warranted. In addition, the pattern of low abundance of the eulachon smelt population in place since 2005 is predicted to continue, in response to which the states again will manage smelt as a Level One fishery in the coming season.

Salmon For All President Jim Wells reported that Compact hearing was packed by Coastal Conservation Association members, demanding an end to night fishing, and making accusations that commercial fishermen grossly under-report their landings. Some called for an end to commercial fisheries for sturgeon and smelt entirely. When asked if sport fisheries for sturgeon and smelt should be suspended as well, CCA members said no, that sport fisheries “are not a threat to the resource.” When Jim phoned the Salmon For All office with his report, he said the hearing was still in session three-and-a-half hours later. “Unbelievable,” was how he put it.

Winter Fact Sheet No. 1 and the subsequent Compact Action Notice are appended as PDF files. Please note that Compact Action Notice 12-21-09.pdf is the second revision of the notice originally posted on this website on Friday, December 18, 2009, which was called Compact Action Notice 12-17-09.pdf.

Winter Fact Sheet No. 1

Compact Action Notice 12-21-09

Written by SFA at 4:14 pm. Filed under Columbia River Compact | 0 Comments »