Dramatic Cutback Needed in Salmon Catch
A federal advisory panel has recommended a dramatic cutback in the West Coast's commercial salmon season, stopping just short of an unprecedented ban that threatened to put the beleaguered fishing industry out of business. Globally nearly every major fishery is already over-depleted or in the process of collapsing. Even as humanity's dependency upon protein from the ocean peaks, there is virtually no hope that fish populations will be maintained in the long-term unless fishing ends immediately and large marine protected areas are established in order to allow fisheries to restore themselves.
Comments
Cutbacks for commercial and sport fishing have continued to increase. I don’t know if it will solve the problem. I can understand why the fishing industry is angry but I can also understand the plight of the salmon. I would like to point out an interesting fact. I don’t know how many people remember the happenings of last spring in Neah Bay, Washington. Neah Bay is located on the Northern tip of Washington’s Pacific coast. This is the home of the Makah Indian Tribe. I frequented this area as child. While this particular event took place in Washington it makes me wonder about the future of the entire west coast salmon runs. Last year during the Makah Tribe's winter troll fishery the tribe reported catching almost 20,000 salmon. According to the state Fish and Wildlife's salmon fishing season package the Makah Tribe is suppose to be limit about 500 fish. I agree that for the future of the salmon cutbacks will have to be made. I also hope that incidences such as this will be more closely monitored. The Makah Tribe did end up closing their winter troll. When salmon were more abundant a catch this large had little impact on the regular fishing season. These days a catch such as this can be devastating.
For anyone interested I have attached links to the Seattle Times to read about this occurrence. You will have to register to read the articles but it is free. I am sure the fight will continue, I just hope the salmon can survive it.
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=salmon01&date=20050201&query=neah+bay
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=makah04&date=20050204&query=neah+bay
Posted by: Mirinda | April 9, 2006 11:40 PM
For anyone who is interested, just read The Sea of Slaughter by Farley Mowat, 1984, available in paperback. It has been serialized in several magazines and The Globe and Mail, Canada's "national newspaper", owned by Ma Bell.
I traces the disappearance of one species after another, wiped out by the world fishing industry, and we have continued on with the cod.
Abolish the fishing industry to save our oceans.
Posted by: Trevor Goodger-Hill | April 17, 2006 2:40 PM
Protecting the Nature you are protecting yourself too!!
Posted by: Alberto Villalba-Rutger | April 23, 2006 6:03 AM
If there are rules why don't you apply them!!
Posted by: Mrs. Anita Zoete | April 23, 2006 6:37 AM