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Take another look at Smalma's post. He lays out the exploitation numbers pretty well. The tribes have historically respected the exploitation rates in the past and have not done nor said anything that would suggest they would do things differently in the future.I have a couple questions about this whole thing, I have tried doing my research but it seems the members on this board have more information than anyone else I talk to. Have we heard any news about how this plan is playing out?
Also, can I get some insight from the other guys on this site on the Sauk-Suiattle/other Skagit tribe's fishing regulations.
As it stands do they have rights to 50% of the Skagit Steelhead Run, even though there is little to no hatchery stock left?
Will they be netting this March?
And, with the recent recent Skagit river Draft Plan, how does this affect the native fishing rights ?
Most importantly if they are allowed to keep more wild Steelhead after the management plan gets put in place - are they the type of tribe that will net everything they can to get their full quota?
PS I certainly do not mean to sound like a racist or bigot, I fully respect the tribes and their culture, especially because I know this tribe in question has previously been very proactive in habitat restoration. However, I like everyone else, cringe at the thought of Wild steelhead falling to the perils of getting flossed out of their river by a gill net, and I would just like to know how much the CNR season will affect the total number of fish in the river.
Thanks in advance.
If there are harvestable numbers of steelhead the tribes will fish no matter what we do. Having a c&r season also relies on the availability of harvestable fish and the percentage of those fish that could die as a result of a c&r fishery would go towards our harvestable numbers. Here is where the argument get interesting. Some say if fish can be lost to c&r then there should be a catch and kill harvest fishery. They have a point. The reason for a strictly c&r fishery is more anglers can enjoy the resource while doing less harm to the run.Wait a minute...
Are we trading the lives of wild steelhead for this c&r season we have been working towards? Like, they will potentially get to net 25% of a 10,000+ fish forecast just because we want to be able to c&r in February, March and April? I didn't know that it was coming at such a cost to the fish. Doesn't seem worth it to me...
Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.
You will need to make that determination for yourself. One thing I can tell you is the tribal harvest has been approximately 4 or 5% of the run. One could make an argument that the mortality rate of a c&r fishery is at least the same or possibly higher than that. For me the tribes fishing for steelhead is a nonissue.So its a fair trade then? Or is it even a trade at all? Because they will net regardless of weather or not we get a c&r season?