Commissioners seek regional fishery support

Wahkiakum County commissioners are seeking support of colleagues and representatives of other agencies in asking the governors of Washington and Oregon for financial relief for the limited spring chinook salmon season on the lower Columbia River.

Commissioners George Trott, Dan Cothren and Blair Brady contacted commissioners in Cowlitz, Pacific and Clatsop counties and the Kalama port district to join in a resolution to the governors.

"I talked to Representative Brian Blake, and he suggested that if we had more people sign on, we might get to see the governor instead of her staff," Cothren said Tuesday.

Commercial and recreational salmon fishermen in the lower Columbia area were upset earlier this spring when the Columbia River Compact, citing a predicted low return of Willamette River hatchery fish, limited the opening to 12 days for anglers, none for gillnetters, below Vancouver while the Willamette remained open all week, for most of the season. Commercial and recreational fishermen were channeled into the waters between Vancouver and Bonneville Dam.

Cothren said the resolution was just finished last Friday, so Wahkiakum commissioners were waiting for their colleagues to meet and vote on it this week. Cothren wanted to present it this Friday in the hope that a meeting could be scheduled with Governor Chris Gregoire before commercial fishermen head to Alaska.

The short season created a severe financial hardship on the lower river communities, the resolution and cover letter state.

"The short and unsuccessful season resulted in a loss of income, food and tax revenue that will be felt thorughtout our community for some time," the commissioners' letter to Gregoire said. The letter asks the governor to help negotiate fair seasons for all fishers.

The proposed resolution urges governors to declare the season a disaster and help provide funding relief to the industries and people affected by the short season.

The Wahkiakum commissioners recessed their Tuesday meeting to Wednesday afternoon (yesterday) to await word on whether or not other boards would join them in the appeal.