Counties to unite on fish issues

Commissioners from counties on both sides of the lower Columbia River will renew an effort started last year by Wahkiakum County to form a united voice in fishery issues.

Clatsop Commissioners John Raichl and Dirk Rohne visited Cathlamet Tuesday to invite their Wahkiakum counterparts to renew their efforts last year to promote sport and recreational fisheries on the river below the Interstate 5 Bridge at Vancouver.

Last year, Wahkiakum Commissioners Dan Cothren, Blair Brady and George Trott, who has retired, enlisted support of other county commissions and the cities, towns and port districts to lobby state governments for longer fishing seasons for spring chinook on the lower river. The sport fishery was limited to 14 days on the lower river last year, but lasted much longer above the I-5 Bridge and in the Willamette River. The commercial fishery was located only upstream of the I-5 Bridge.

Wahkiakum commissioners hosted a town hall meeting with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff and also met in the courthouse with WDFW administrators.

This year, the sport season is longer, but the commercial fishery is still upriver.

Raichl and Rohne proposed that commissioners from Wahkiakum, Pacific, and Clatsop counties develop a unified statement in support of commercial and recreational fisheries that could be used in lobbying efforts.

Wahkiakum Commissioners Cothren, Brady and Lisa Marsyla, who replaced Trott, supported the idea and asked that a meeting be scheduled with other counties to start work on it.

Raichl and Rohne said the commercial salmon industry faces considerable political opposition from the recreational fishing industry in urban centers, and Clatsop County values the industry.

"We consider commercial fishing part of the culture and history of our county," he said. "Commercial fishermen have made great strides in how they catch and release fish."

"Without the commercial fishers, local processors and markets, the general public won't have access to salmon," Rohne said. "We need to advocate for both sides of the river for our economic and cultural interests. If we're united, we'll have a much better chance of success."

The Wahkiakum commissioners agreed.

"You're right," Cothren said. "It's got to where it's lower river versus upper river. Down here, our sport fishermen get along good with the commercial fishermen. We need to get people together and go as a team."

Cothren added that last year's initiative received good support from Pacific County commissioners but mixed support from the Cowlitz board.