Bombshell Court Victory: Chinook Harvest Harms Southern Resident Killer Whales and Wild Chinook

[Rob Allen]

WA taxpayers and fishing license buyers are subsidizing Canadian salmon fishing. I've advocated an audit of WA state financed salmon hatcheries based on how many $$ is costs to return a salmon to a WA angler's creel, and stop raising salmon at the hatcheries that cost the most to return a hatchery salmon to an in-state angler's creel.

In addition to that an audit of the quality of the fishing they provide is needed.
For example the Washougal River Tule fishery is almost entirely a poaching fishery and should be eliminated in my opinion and possibly replaced with b run coho that return when the water is high and provide better quality fish and fishing.
Or possibly a later returning stock of chinook.

 

[Chris Johnson]

I don't understand all the vitriol toward WFC, NOAA is authorizing intercept fisheries outside the law. If I go fishing in closed waters I get punished, why should they be any different?
"On Monday, U.S. Judge Richard A. Jones issued summary judgement in a lawsuit brought by Wild Fish Conservancy in March 2020 challenging NOAA Fisheries for authorizing commercial salmon harvest in Southeast Alaska’s Chinook troll fishery at levels that the federal agency admits in their most recent analysis of the fishery are pushing federally protected SRKW’s and wild Chinook closer to extinction. The Court’s order overwhelming agreed that NOAA violated the law by improperly relying on undeveloped and uncertain future mitigation to offset this ongoing harm to species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)."

 

[Dustin Chromers]

I don't understand all the vitriol toward WFC, NOAA is authorizing intercept fisheries outside the law. If I go fishing in closed waters I get punished, why should they be any different?
"On Monday, U.S. Judge Richard A. Jones issued summary judgement in a lawsuit brought by Wild Fish Conservancy in March 2020 challenging NOAA Fisheries for authorizing commercial salmon harvest in Southeast Alaska’s Chinook troll fishery at levels that the federal agency admits in their most recent analysis of the fishery are pushing federally protected SRKW’s and wild Chinook closer to extinction. The Court’s order overwhelming agreed that NOAA violated the law by improperly relying on undeveloped and uncertain future mitigation to offset this ongoing harm to species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)."

I don't like them because their members are habitual left lane drivers. They also avert eye contact when passed on the right when giving them the finger. A week later they send a summons in the mail for my "reckless" behaviour.

 

[Rob Allen]

I don't like them because their members are habitual left lane drivers. They also avert eye contact when passed on the right when giving them the finger. A week later they send a summons in the mail for my "reckless" behaviour.

only one thing worse than a left lane camper... the guy who comes flying up behind you as you are using the left lane to pass at the posted speed +5 expecting you to immediately get out of his way.

 

[krusty]

Guarantee you the nonprofit's lawyers and government attorneys aren't getting rich off this case. It's not like personal injury cases on contingency where the lawyers get a cut of the damage award, there are no money damages in ESA or NEPA cases. The lawyers will get paid for the work they did, but everyone should get paid for working.

Having been employed by defendants in several such cases I can attest to the sincerity of the plaintiff's attorneys. While I may have disagreed with the outcome in certain instances I know the attorneys involved were 'true believers' in motivation and spirit, had spent decades dedicated to their client's cause, and were the furthest thing from 'ambulance chasers'.

 

[kerrys]

only one thing worse than a left lane camper... the guy who comes flying up behind you as you are using the left lane to pass at the posted speed +5 expecting you to immediately get out of his way.

I like the ones that think flashing their brights at you will somehow cause you to think they are more important. I will maintain my speed complete my pass, move over ‘til the flashers are clear then pull in behind and start flashing my brights. What? You can’t go any faster in bumper to bumper traffic?

 

[Zak]

Having been employed by the defendants in several such cases I can attest to the sincerity of the plaintiff's attorneys. While I may have disagreed with the outcome in certain instances I know the attorneys involved were 'true believers' in motivation and spirit, had spent decades dedicated to their client's cause, and were the furthest thing from 'ambulance chasers'.

That's very kind of you, to see the good in the opposing side!

 

[krusty]

That's very kind of you, to see the good in the opposing side!

It was, for me at least, simply a matter of not taking it personally. The beauty of a court decision is that it often provides clarity to both parties.

In fact it was often a relief that my employer's upper management finally STFU about something and set about doing what they had to do to correct a problem.

 

[G_Smolt]

I don't understand all the vitriol toward WFC, NOAA is authorizing intercept fisheries outside the law. If I go fishing in closed waters I get punished, why should they be any different?
"On Monday, U.S. Judge Richard A. Jones issued summary judgement in a lawsuit brought by Wild Fish Conservancy in March 2020 challenging NOAA Fisheries for authorizing commercial salmon harvest in Southeast Alaska’s Chinook troll fishery at levels that the federal agency admits in their most recent analysis of the fishery are pushing federally protected SRKW’s and wild Chinook closer to extinction. The Court’s order overwhelming agreed that NOAA violated the law by improperly relying on undeveloped and uncertain future mitigation to offset this ongoing harm to species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)."

My "Good job, WFC" comment was more exasperation than anything, because as I see it, the low-hanging fruit for NMFS to trim is directed Chinook fisheries in WA. If the SE AK Summer combined troll take is composed of ~1% Puget Sound stocks but there is an open fishery in the PS terminal area, which one do you think they will shut down first while they are rewriting the BiOp?

 

[_WW_]

The Court’s order overwhelming agreed that NOAA violated the law by improperly relying on undeveloped and uncertain future mitigation to offset this ongoing harm to species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)."

How the fuck do you even do that? Can I go drive a new car off the lot under the belief that I will win the lottery in two years. and pay for it then.

Our future mitigation will be that future fishing will cease due to extinction of the species.

 

[Chris Johnson]

How the fuck do you even do that? Can I go drive a new car off the lot under the belief that I will win the lottery in two years. and pay for it then.

Our future mitigation will be that future fishing will cease due to extinction of the species.

Because they are there to protect the fishery.