There were passionate pleas Thursday at the Portland City Council's first public budget meeting because some officers, firefighters and the city's mounted patrol could lose their jobs. Watch KATU's report on the meeting.
Gov. John Kitzhaber's Driver Card bill speech at the Oregon state Capitol in Salem, May 1, 2013.
Most if not all commercial gill netters have full time jobs, a lot are in the construction industry, I know this because I worked beside them in the same industry. Whats more they fish at night where they are not monitored and I know this because I see them come in the morning to drop off their catches and there are no observers aboard. Jim Wells said early in the interview on KATU with Steve Dunn that the Tribes do not sell their fish but rather eat them and then later said that the buyers could buy them. He stepped on himself several times in this interview with inaccurate information. Any one who has gone to Cascade Locks and bought fish from the tribes can tell you that the tribes do sell their fish. Whats more they sell them to Pacific Sea Foods in Clackamas. The Sport Fisherman are not going to get any more fish and as a matter of act they have been cut off many times for fear of over harvesting. Whats more there will be fish in all of the newly formed safe areas for the Gill Netters to fish on, they are simply blowing smoke and crying over what they know is better for the fish but not for them. Measure 81 is a win win for the fish and that is what truly matters. Please vote Yes On 81, I know I will
@steve johnson You are so wrong but then again I suppose you don't think that Men who work hard and have Ambition to do better should work side jobs? I have worked extra jobs my entire Adult life to make ends meet and to get things and do things that I would not be able to afford otherwise. Also how do you suppose they will fit 200 nets in the newly formed areas that have already been fished for over 100 years and already have a sustainable number of fishermen on them? Your BS did not win and will cost the State Millions in Court Fees when all is said and done.
A lot of commercial gillnetters fish in multiple areas because they have to just to make ends meet! Your statement that 'most if not all' is laughable. You don't know 'most' or 'all'. Some work construction because it is something they can do in the off-season so that they can put food on the table!
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As far as the fishing at night comments go there is so many opinions being thrown around pretending to be facts. Fisherman fish at night on the Columbia, not because they chose to fish at night and not so that they can hide what they are doing...they fish at night because the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has determined that that is when they shall fish. They determined that because there simply is less boat traffic on the water at night. Ships are not moving up the Columbia at night and there is no sport traffic. I like how you said that you know what is happening because you see them coming in to off-load. Not every boat has an observer, every time!
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"Whats more there will be fish in all of the newly formed safe areas for the Gill Netters to fish on...' Where are these newly formed areas and where are all of these fish coming from? I didn't see anything about that in Measure 81. Commercial Fishermen don't go out and rape and pillage the high seas! They are a management tool for use by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. They are very concerned about the health of the fish runs because it is there livelihood! They are very involved in Salmon Enhancement programs on the river. Both Commercial Fisherman and Sport Fishermen get cut off equally if the escapement is not meeting ODF&W goals!
I would be interested in seeing the study on mortality rates that says sport fisherman kill as many salmon with a hook in the mouth as commercial fisherman kill with a gill net. Are you speaking percentages or the fact that there are thousands more sport fisherman than commercials and after handling far more fish the numbers come out to the same?
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It would also be interesting to show the general public (who as quoted, spend almost a BILLION dollars  a year on salmon recovery) what the average commercial makes on the gillnet season opposed to how much is spent on the local economy from the sport fisherman pursuing the same fish, let alone the money spent by BPA..which trickles down to the ratepayer.
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Interesting again that the Commercials are not wanting this to go to a ballot measure when isnt this how fish wheels got banned from the Columbia in the first place...from a charge lead by the folks that were gill netting?
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Allocations are staying the same...there is nothing in the bill that would shift what is already divided between the sport fisherman and the commercial fisherman...it is time for us to be stewards of the resources that have shaped Oregon. Wild places and wild salmon...
@crayfin Hooking Mortality by Anatomical Location and Its Use in Estimating Mortality of Spring Chinook Salmon Caught and Released in a River Sport Fishery, North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 24:367-378, 2004
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Recomendations for Tangle Net release mortality assumptions for Spring Chinook, Prepared by the U.S. v Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), March 26, 2008.
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Also, if you think that allocations are going to stay the same then you don't know how it works! If you have a certain size of run with a certain size of desired escapement that leaves you with the balance as the expected harvest. If commercials cannot harvest any of that run, then the sport community would be allowed to harvest them all. Allocations have been hard fought by the commercial community because the sport lobbies have fought to take every last bit of it away from them!
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Changing of fishing gear type would not happen with a passing of this vote. It is a legal requirement that before any new gear type is allowed, it's mortality rate and by-catch has to be determined, and this is no small feat! So...if it was to pass the commercial fishermen would be out of jobs, which believe me (of course you don't have to) many local businesses would fold! There are not enough off-stem areas nor is there enough hatchery production to sustain the community.
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As far as sport fishermen supporting the local economies, they don't support them! Only local sport fishermen support the local economies and they also support the commercial fishermen because they know the real story behind this and do not support the sport lobby politics coming down from Portland and rich owners of outdoor sport fitters. I watch all of the guides and weekend warriors from Portland come down to the coast and they don't spend much here because they bring it all down from Portland or buy it online and then take it all back! Commercial guys are fully invested in the survival of the Columbia River runs because it is their livelihood and they spend money in the local communities year round!
Gill nets are not selective! Every fish large enough gets caught and killed! Gill nets should be banded! Gill nets should be banded for everybody!
I would also like to say that in the media you hear things like gillnets kill everything or gillnets have been called curtains of death and the like. The media and the sport fishing community over the years has muddied the waters starting back in the 80's when concern about 'High Seas Drift Nets' started coming to light. The public was shown images of foreign factory ships fishing in the open ocean with drift nets (miles long and closer to large seine net construction) that are nothing like gillnets. These ships were shown killing dolphins and the like. Over the years the public has been fed mis-information and it started getting used recently on gillnets as an emotional tactic by the sport fishing lobby. The term 'Curtains of Death' was coined for High Seas Drift Nets, not commercial gillnets. Also the information coming from certain organizations regarding the Maui's  dolphin population in New Zealand has never been scientifically linked to anything to do with gillnets. Whats more, the nets used in that New Zealand fishery are setnets and not drift gillnets, which if you know anything about commercial fishing is a different beast. Additionally...the New Zealand report concluded that there was not a significant difference whether the setnets were there or not for the Maui's dolphins. The population could increase or decrease regardless of whether the setnets were there or not there. For the Hector's dolphins there was not statistically significant evidence that setnets were a factor, but they concluded that if the setnets were not there, that subjectively they could see a population increase, but there was no significant statistics behind it. It was not fact based and there are many other factors that were probably more significant to the population than simply setnets. Don't simply take what one side is feeding you! Learn to think for yourself and make informed, fact based decisions!
That is why there mesh size restrictions, also that would be "Banned" not Banded. I would like to see Tangle nets used exclusively, it would cost more but a gradual change would work. What it comes down to is the runs are already growing each year, why change what works? These people just want all the fish for themselves. Where will the Public get thier share of Salmon? Farm fish? Also, since you statement comes off as factual I have to ask what experience you have? Have you ever actually been on a Gillnet boat when it is fishing?
Maybe we could have a Tribal Member explain to listeners how they were able to non selective fish using almost every known method except hook and line and never have a salmon shortage for 1000's of years?
Gee...let's also add that hook & line sport fishing isn't very selective!!! Mr. Polley are you telling the voting public that only hatchery fish strike your line??? I know you said that sport fishers are required to keep the wild salmon in the water, but you didn't say anything about the fact that there is still a mortality rate associated with releasing that hooked wild salmon! You also didn't say that that mortality rate is just as high as the commercial mortality rate! So...perhaps we should ban sport fishing on the Columbia River! What say you?
These poor fisherman and their families are getting fired from their jobs, life and family history if this bill passes⦠Mr. Wells is right that this is not a ballot issue and the voters need to be better educated on the non-tribal gillnet fishery⦠The amount of regulation these gillnetters have is incredible and contrary to Mr. Polleyâs comments the regulations make for a truly sustainable fishery⦠The commissions, with their acute scientific knowledge should decide this matter so vote NO and let these families surviveâ¦!
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A concerned tribal gillnetter
good job jim just to bad you didnt tell the people in oregon the reason it is on the ballot is one mans donnatoin to the cca of 500,000.00 to pay signature gatherers!. a man that lives in washington state.now the people in oregon can vote if they want to eat wild salmon or eat cancer causing farmed salmon. i vote no on 81 we love wild salmon.and we need our oregon jobs.thank you katu
Isn't it "Your Voice, Your Vote?"
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Anyway, excellent program. The questions and format were appropriate and fair and the messages were very clear. The ballot measure seeks to reform our salmon fishery to make it more sustainable in view of our massive investments in saving wild fish, and the gillnet representative confirmed that their only interest is in saving their jobs despite the harm caused by their gear.  I am crystal clear on how I will vote --- YES on 81!  Thank you for this program.
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Ginny Ross
Ginny, you have heard some of the facts but not nearly all of them. Yes, the Fishermen are worried about their jobs, anyone would be with thier investments ruined. Also Seining kills nearly all the bi-catch by groupng them in so tight they lose thier scales and can't breath. This truely is just another attempt by the Sport Fishing Industry to get All the fish for themselves. The Sport Fishing Industry already takes way more fish than Commercial fishing does on the Columbia. One other fact, most gillnetters have drift rights for thier section of river. They are required to maintain that area to keep thier exclusive rights at thier own expense but it also keeps the river safe for navigation. Also my family has been Commercial fishing t9he Columbia for over 100 years and 5 generations, no one cares more about Fish and Habitat conservation than we do. The runs are increasing every year, there is no reason to change what is working. Also why aren't Guides and Charter fishing boats considered Commercial? They catch fish for money, they should have to pay for State Permits as well. Think carefully before voting on this, there are some communities that depend on the revenue from Commercial fishing and allot of families that will be destroyed just so some Sport Fishermen can catch a few more fish.
Thanks for your informed view Ginny! :( What is the harm exactly that gillnet gear does? Maybe you should read the scientific reports from the Fish & Game Department that shows statistically there is no difference in mortality rates between commercial gillnet fishing and hook & line sport fishing!! Also, perhaps you should spend some time with a commercial fisherman to understand that the gear, placement of the gear, areas where the gear are used and time allowed fishing are very selective. Let Fish and Game Management do their job! They do an excellent job of managing our resources scientifically, not on the ignorant whims of public sentiment.
 @Erik Careful there big guy. That statement ("ignorant whims of public sentiment") makes it sound like you don't think the voting public should have a chance to vote on this because they don't know enough about it. Welcome to modern day politics my friend. Most voters only know what they hear on TV and from the media and are still allowed to vote, regardless of the election. It's a right of all Americans. You don't have to be smart or well informed to be allowed to vote, although I wish sometimes it was requried...just look at our last presidential election...
@kramer @Erik A lot of people feel like using the word ignorant is somehow an attack against a person or group of persons. I don't feel that way and feel free to use the word because I know what it means. It simply means, 'lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified.' - from the Merriam Webster dictionary. Just because a thing is a certain way doesn't mean I have to accept it or like it: "Welcome to modern day politics my friend." What people hear on TV and from the media is generally very disappointing! Generally when you dig a little further you find things such as, illustrations that are used to make a point are not even related to the topic at hand, quotes are taken out of context, opinions are presented like they are fact without any references or credit given to where it came from. I am an American and I love and up-hold our freedoms. You don't have to tell me what the rights are of all Americans! Nothing in my post was to suggest that certain citizens or some citizens should not be allowed to vote! Do I think that this issue is something that should be decided in a ballot measure? No. I think ODF&W should be allowed to do their job and do it scientifically, not being pressured by politics to go against scientific studies and fact based decisions. They are doing a good job and fish numbers are on the rise.