Quinault closes fisheries to salmon fishing

The Quinault Indian Nation has closed all of its coho salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor and the Queets River until further notice because of low returns of the fish since the season began, according to a press release from the tribe.

The announcement came on the heels of a similar closure by the Department of Fish and Wildlife of Grays Harbor and its tributaries. The department announced its closure nearly a week ago and it began on Monday. The season was originally scheduled to run through Jan. 31.

Nation President Fawn Sharp called the situation a “disaster.”

“The closure will have serious consequences and substantial financial losses for our community, but it’s the right thing to do as stewards for future generations,” Sharp said in the statement. “We will be seeking economic relief for our fishermen and their families, as well as providing what support we can through the tribe.”

The Nation and the Department of Fish and Wildlife work as co-managing agencies each year to predict returns before each fishing season. Fish and Wildlife spokesman Steve Thiesfeld said earlier this week the low returns were due to ocean survival issues.

Ed Johnstone, a spokesman for the Nation’s fisheries policy, said the low coho returns were due to warm waters off the coast, adding that the conditions are expected to remain for a few months.