Two gillnetters cited for keeping nets in too long

Wednesday, April 04, 2007


Astoria resident Jim Wells, who acts as president for the gillnetter organization Salmon For All, was one of two Astoria gillnet fishermen charged with Class A misdemeanors by the Oregon State Police during a Columbia River commercial salmon fishery March 21.

Wells was charged with two separate misdemeanors: one for exceeding the 45-minute net soak time limit and another for failing to use his wild fish recovery box. According to OSP Sgt. Jeff Scroop, Wells had his net in the water for 79 minutes and did not have any water in his fish recovery box when the OSP officer wrote the citation.

Another Astoria gillnetter, Clarence Demasse, was cited for exceeding the legal net soak time. Scroop said Demasse left his net in the water for 75 minutes.

Scroop said the rules for fish recovery boxes and soak time are key factors in protecting wild salmon during the March tanglenet fishery, which hasn't always been available to gillnetters.

Studies have shown 45 minutes is "about the maximum" wild fish can survive in the net, said Scroop. If any wild fish are collected, they are supposed to be "immediately placed in the fish recovery box," he said.

Scroop said the fishermen have to go through a workshop to learn the rules before the fishery opens.

"These are rules that are discussed with them," said Scroop. "They know how important these particular rules are."

He said there were easily 100 boats on the water March 21, and that most fishermen are willing to follow the rules.

"It's not the majority of the fishermen that are committing these violations," he said. "Just like with sport or recreational fisheries, most of the guys I think realize this is an opportunity."

Both cases will be arraigned in Clatsop County District Court later this month.