Coalition Opposes ‘Wasteful Fishing’ Initiative It Is Widely Assumed Measure Would Eliminate Gill Netting With Current Equipment

A coalition of regional environmental groups is opposing a proposed ballot initiative that would ban “wasteful fishing.”

Initiative 640 would prohibit any method of fishing that isn’t capable of sparing the lives of at least 85 percent of unwanted fish that are caught. Although gill-net fishing is not specifically mentioned, it is widely assumed such a law would eliminate gill netting with current equipment.

Supporters say the “Save Our Sealife” initiative is needed to protect diminishing wild salmon runs. They say sport and commercial fishermen should be able to release without harm most unmarked fish and retain only fin-clipped hatchery ones if conditions require it.

Gill nets usually kill the fish they catch before they are hauled on board.

The environmental coalition against the initiative includes American Rivers, the Wilderness Society, Washington Toxics Coalition, Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and Greater Ecosystem Alliance.

“We believe it is better to work together to protect fish habitat and restore fish runs for both sport and commercial fisheries,” the groups said in a joint news release this week. “Instead of arguing over which group of fishers - sport or commercial - gets to harvest depleted fish runs, we should be joining forces to restore harvestable runs for all users.”

The coalition said the initiative does not promote salmon conservation or protection of fish habitat, assumes commercial salmon fishing should be eliminated, fails to address the need to comply with Indian treaty rights and would hurt the economies of fishing-dependent communities.

Frank Haw, former administrator with the Washington Department of Fisheries and prime author of the proposed initiative, disputed each of the coalition’s objections.

He said the proposal would require the state to seek a solution to the problem of Canada’s interception of Washingtonbound salmon.

“If anything is important for conservation, I would say something for U.S.Canada just about heads the list,” Haw said.

He also said the importance of habitat does not justify overlooking wasteful fishing.

The initiative does not outlaw commercial fishing and has no effect on Indian treaty rights, Haw said.

Would the initiative hurt the economies of fishing-dependent communities?

“What the initiative says is that the resources of the state would be managed in a way that produces the greatest benefit to the people of the state,” Haw said.

Initiative campaigners note that it is illegal under current law to kill migratory or state-protected sea birds. Yet, that is what gill nets are doing year after year, initiative attorney Charles Brown said in a recent letter to state and federal officials.

The birds get caught in the nets while swimming and drown.

“If this matter is put in suit,” Brown wrote, “the state’s own studies will provide compelling evidence of unlawful destruction of sea birds.”