Gill Nets

anecak · Joined: 30 Jun 2003 Posts: 14

There is a sensible strategy to deal with the gill nets that have appeared this year right in the middle of several windsurfing sites: Boycott the purchase of any fish from ANY Native Americans. The purpose would not be to punish any particular fisherman, most of whom are undoubtedly blameless. The purpose would be to use the windsurfing community's (and friends') economic power to pressure the Native Americans to police their own community . If properly organized, with enough publicizing and enough discipline by enough people to make it be felt by all fishermen who profit by selling fish to the white community, the fishermen would get the message. They would put pressure on CRTFC, or on the people who put the gill nets just offshore in so many places, to move them. They know who they are, and if it is affecting the income of everyone they will make sure the nets get moved. It is not a question of whether or not they have a right to put gillnets right off the Hatchery. They certainly do. It is a matter of in-your-face lack of consideration for the recreational users they know are affected by it.

westender · Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 1288 Location: Portland / Gorge

There is some order by which the nets are placed. Families or individuals own or have right to different areas where they can put a net. They can loan or lease, rent or whatever they want with these spots. That's the story I was told by a Gorge Old timer??? Maybe they're mad at us for making the salmon go away.

This year it looks like the back eddy is less important than having the nets trap windsurfers.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Don't forget that if they don't like a boycott, they always have the right to prosecute us for touching their nets (aka "interfering with their livelihood"). They would quickly become quite wealthy doing that, and it could effectively shut down some launches. We also don't need more rancid fish oil dumped in the jibe zone or onto big fires just yards upwind of the rigging area, more mounds of fish guts piled just upwind in the midsummer heat, or guts dumped in the launch zone. Let's not exacerbate the situation, because, like the RR, the Indians have the upper hand in and out of court.

Besides, no boycott is necessary. I've had salmon only hours out of the river and only hours out of Costco, and MUCH prefer the latter, especially during the Copper River run.

Mike \m/

duckwind · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 24

They can have their gill nets, lets just be happy with the hundreds of miles of dammed river we have to windsurf on.

tweeky · Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 256

Mulekick84 · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 407

duckwind · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 24

tweeky · Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 256

scottwerden · Joined: 11 Jul 1999 Posts: 302

I don't have a problem with the nets; I would say someone's livelihood has priority over a sport. Just suck it up and jibe outside the nets. Sheeesh.

windoggi · Joined: 22 Feb 2002 Posts: 2743

Glad I live in the east bay...the odd weed CAN be a bother though.