Don’t let fishing be the scapegoat

Fishing opportunities in Northwest waters have just about disappeared. It’s a situation that has strained relations between Indians and non-Indians – the state, local governments, environmental organizations, businesses and even fishermen. It’s also a condition we can improve, if we follow the truth, and that truth goes right to habitat.

Fishermen have made the lion’s share of sacrifice so far, and cutting back on fisheries to the degree we have has not been easy on our people. Empty freezers and smoke houses hurt deeply, physically, economically and culturally.

Squaxin Island Tribe seeks more science on Johns Creek

The Squaxin Island Tribe has filed a petition with the state Department of Ecology (DOE) to stop all new water withdrawals, including permit-exempt wells, in the Johns Creek watershed near Shelton.

“Summer flows on Johns Creek are already below the minimum required by state rules to protect salmon spawning” said Jim Peters, chairman of the Squaxin Island Tribe. “The responsible thing to do is for everyone to stop new water withdrawals and figure out what’s really going on with the creek, especially because the impact of over 270 exempt wells drilled in the last 25 years has never been quantified.”

2008 salmon fisheries will protect weak wild salmon runs

The tribal and state salmon co-managers have crafted a package of fisheries that will protect weak wild runs of coho and chinook salmon throughout Puget Sound and coastal Washington. The co-managers agreed on a conservation-based fishing package that protects weak wild runs by focusing efforts on abundant hatchery runs.

“While the picture for chinook is overall pretty good this year, some fisheries needed to be trimmed from last year’s levels to protect weak chinook runs to some rivers,” said Lorraine Loomis, fisheries manager with the Swinomish Tribe and lead negotiator for the treaty tribes.