| Here is a case of bad news and more bad news for | | | | So why would an alfalfa grower, rancher or any |
| salmon fishermen. | | | | water user for that matter, think that their blatant |
| Federal fish managers, based on a recommendation | | | | disregard for those that are "downstream", won't |
| of the National Marine Fisheries Service, are | | | | have an effect at some point? |
| considering closing down ocean salmon fishing from | | | | Hmmmm? |
| Point Falcon in Oregon to Point Sur in California. | | | | I'll let you come up with the answer. |
| The closure- which is scheduled to have a final vote | | | | All I know, is that if nothing is done, we will have |
| in April-would basically decimate coastal salmon fishing | | | | another ruined river. |
| operations, and despite federal disaster aid, essentially | | | | The double dose of bad news here is, if the closure |
| would put a fair number of salmon fishermen out of | | | | takes place, guess what? |
| business. | | | | Fishermen will head north. |
| The "canary in the mine" here, is the Klamath River | | | | Washington and Alaska will get some folks who will |
| and it's resident salmon which have found it hard to | | | | be suddenly interested in relocation. |
| spawn in yet another screwed up river system. | | | | And of course with more boats and fishermen and |
| I'm not a scientist-but there appears to be a direct | | | | pressure on the salmon(despite quotas) the next |
| corelation to the massive die-off of Klamath Salmon | | | | place you will be hearing about closures and angry |
| back in 2002. (For those who do not remember, back | | | | fishermen-will be Washington and Alaska. |
| in the water tight year of 2002, precious Klamath | | | | The good news, if there is any, is that salmon fishing |
| Basin water was diverted to southern Oregon and | | | | in any river in the affected area, such as the Rogue |
| northern California ranches and farms to protect their | | | | & Chetco should be phenomenal this year. |
| interests.) I also do not claim to be a water | | | | Without any competition from commercial ocean |
| management expert-although I did stay at a Holiday | | | | fishermen and ocean sport fishermen, river salmon |
| Inn Express once- but it appears that inland water | | | | fishermen will have the fish all too themselves. |
| managers might want to shake hands with marine | | | | So stay tuned to April 2nd and the decisions that will |
| fishery managers, especially when inland rivers drain | | | | be made. |
| directly into oceans. The fact that a river born, sea | | | | The future of both Klamath River Salmon and |
| raised salmon, sometimes has to travel hundreds of | | | | California commercial fishermen, may hang in the |
| miles to spawn their young, tells me there is some | | | | balance. |
| cause and effect as to what takes place "upstream". | | | | |