Why not just eliminate gill-nets altogether?
First, and most important, increases in SAFE area net pen releases will benefit the sports fishing fleets, as well as commercial fishing. Oregon and Washington coastal communities will see more Chinook and Coho available offshore. The Astoria area and other lower river communities also stand to gain from additional fish processing jobs if netting improves in the SAFE zones. A complete ban on gill-nets would not only hurt local commercial fishermen, but also could hurt sport anglers because much of the support for hatchery production would be lost. Reductions in sport and commercial fishing could also reduce the constituency that supports fish conservation efforts.
