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| Faith Hope And Politics |
Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote prohibits commercial salmon fishing with gillnets by non-tribal Oregon fishers, except in specifically designated off-channel areas located in the lower Columbia River.
Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains laws allowing commercial fishing under limited number of permits by Oregon/Washington non-tribal fishers in Columbia River main-stream, up to Bonneville Dam.
Summary: Currently, non-tribal Oregon commercial fishers may catch salmon in Columbia River only with gillnets, only in areas below Bonneville Dam. Current law recognizes Washington gillnet licenses as valid in both Oregon/Washington waters of Columbia River. Measure prohibits commercial gillnet salmon fishing by Oregon non-tribal fishers except in specifically designated areas outside mainstream of lower Columbia River: Youngs Bay, Tongue Point/South Channel, Blind Slough/Knappa Slough; Fish and Wildlife Commission may designate additional areas meeting specified criteria. Measure would not prohibit Washington-permitted gillnet fishers from continuing to commercially fish in Washington waters of Columbia River; allows commission to permit Washington gillnet fishers to "land" fish in designated Oregon areas. Measure does not affect tribal fishing rights or rights to use gillnets. Other provisions.
Chief petitioners for measure 81 include Senators Fred Girod and Rod Monroe, as well as David Schamp, chairman of the Oregon Coastal Conservation Association chapter's board of directors.
According to David Schamp, Oregon's failure to protect wild salmon runs threatens the state's credibility as a leader in sustainability. Each year, taxpayers, electric utility rate payers and others collectively contribute about $1 billion to recovery efforts, yet wild salmon, an important natural and economic resource for our state, remain on the brink of extinction.
Opposition comes from a group called Salmon For All. The Salmon For All group argues that if Oregon law is changed, it would only apply to Oregon waters. And It would put Oregon fishermen out of business and allow Washington fishermen to continue business as usual. This group also claims that the passage of Measure 81 would force commercial fishing families to change their equipment and nets with no compensation, this would cost them at least $150,000 per family. Measure 81 would also ban Oregon restaurants, fish markets, wholesalers and consumers from buying fish caught locally by Non-Tribal families. Clatsop County Commissioners announced their opposition to the proposed measure on August 10, 2011.
Things to note:
Washington commercial fishermen would still be allowed to use gillnets on the Columbia River while Oregon commercial fishermen would be banned if Measure 81 passes. Native American tribal fishermen would still be able to use gillnets on the Columbia River. However, Columbia River salmon caught legally by Washington commercial fishermen and Native American tribal fishermen could not be sold to Oregon wholesalers, canners, buyers, restaurants, fish markets and consumers under Measure 81. The measure prohibits Oregonians from purchasing salmon and sturgeon caught by gillnet.
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