Salmon news getting better and better!

Here is the latest from Bob
Franko who is whoulder deep in the PFMC meeting right now.  He cautions us to hold on the celebration, cause it ain't over yet.

I think it's gonna go our way.  here tis:

HERE IS WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR
      #298690 - Thu Apr 06 2006 10:07 AM    

 

There are two things I want to tell you. The first will not get your juices flowing but I'm going to tell you anyway. In the long term picture it is important that we keep a good working relationship with the Dept of F&G. For those of you that didn't notice there was representation from the Dept of F&G there in the form of a Deputy Director.

I was so swamped I didn't have the time to give him the time his title deserves, and in a follow up letter I said as much. I received a return letter explaining he was there on behalf of the Dept trying to get a better understanding of just how much pain this was going to cause. He also said that Coastsides phenomenal effort will and has made a difference.

He has given us the necessary contact numbers and will work with us on future issues. This is important news. We have always been able to call Deputy Director Sonke Mastrup, and Ryan Broderick has even returned my calls, but this latest news is in my mind a reinforcement of Coastside roll in the fishery, and is being acknowledged and responded too.


OK THE NEWS YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

They meaning NOAA have moved away from their original position of 0 means 0, and gave new direction today to the council. Under this new direction as it stands right now, and I say that with a little apprehension because it is not over until the fat lady sings, but here is what I'm told will be voted on.

KMZ
Opens May15. Closed the month of August.

Fort Bragg

Closed

June 5,6,12,13,19,20,26,27
July 10,11

PT Arena to Pigeon PT

Closed

June 12,13
July10,11

Pigeon South

No Closer

If this gets approved ,and I see no reason why it should not. Coastside will throw a party that will have no equal.

ONE MORE THING THANK YOU GUYS FOR KEEPING ME ON THE WATER YOU DON"T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME

BOB FRANKO

--------------------
Thanks for your club support. Our fishery is too important not to care.

Bob Franko

Ok I will breath just a tinsie tiny bit now.

what happens to the commercial guys?

The vote is in.

Ben Sleeter called the radio show tonight and basically went over the info we have above.  he said they "may be voting even as we speak."

How right he was.  Minutes after his call we got an unexpected call from "the godfather," Bob Franko himself who told us this was his 1st call to announce the vote is in and it was 13-1 to support the option described above.  the one "no" vote was PFMC and was a formality for some beauracratic reason.  So now NOAA has to approve, but everyone says that is fait accompli.

Short message- WE WON!!!!  We have a recreational Salmon Season!

Jmairey- good question re commercials.  They did not fare nearly so well.  They will have a severly limited season-I have no details but my heart goes out to them.  Much of our success is predicated on the work and effort the commercial guys have been doing for years.

Allen

Oh dear...........It's hard to celebrate if the commercials are getting no season.  I hope the final gives them enough..................

Yes!!!! Woohoo!!!!! 

My big question, and the real kicker for the salmon we're all trying to protect, is did the Federales put in place a plan to protect the Klamath itself from Agribusiness, et al? 

After the Bush administration chose the agribusiness lobby over that of the fisherfolk/indians/ecologists/etc...  I don't have much hope for the salmon at all.   

A recent lawsuit requires more water be provided for the klamath coho, which may help the klamath chinook.  Several dams may also be removed because their leases expire and there will be stiff opposition to renewing the leases.

I'm sad about the commercial guys too.  My position on the ocean is that it should be managed to maximize it's economic productivity over the long term.  The more people that make their living on or enjoy the ocean, the more people care about it - if the commercial fishermen give up and move on, there will be less people to fight for the fish next time around and then it'll be the recreational fishermen that get the shaft.  I'd let them gill-net a quota of fish under the golden gate to recompense them. 

"Funny" Josh,

I just had this conversation at the store where they were reloading my reel.  Another customer said he was fine if the commies went away.  I differed with him............politely but firmly......