What is SAFE for Salmon all about?

SAFE for Salmon is about working to reverse the downward spiral that salmon, sport fishing, and commercial fishing are experiencing on the Lower Columbia River, which has caused hardship in communities across Oregon and Washington. The SAFE for Salmon plan calls for a new management framework that would stabilize commercial fishing harvests, increase sportfishing opportunities, and aid recovery of wild fish populations.

What are the major benefits of SAFE for Salmon?

1. Provides new economic benefits for lower Columbia River and coastal communities.
2. Reduces hatchery salmon straying on wild spawning grounds.
3. Eliminates wasteful bycatch of sturgeon, steelhead and wild salmon by nets.
4. Provides more sportfishing off the Washington and Oregon coasts.
5. Prioritizes the Columbia River for sportfishing; thus increasing spring seasons by nearly half, doubling fall seasons and moving all of the summer season into the sport fleet.
6. Actually increases commercial salmon catches.
7. Offers the non-angling public stability and reliability at the fish market.
8. Reverses the decline of angling license revenue to ODFW/WDFW.

How will it do all that?

SAFE for Salmon calls for permanently moving commercial gill-nets out of the mainstem Columbia River into existing and possibly new SAFE sanctuaries and redirecting significant hatchery production into SAFE net pens.

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.

Will this proposal help commercial fishermen?

Yes. It provides them seasons that are more stable, dependable and predictable with more fish of higher quality.

Why does this need to happen now?

The time is right. Columbia Basin wild salmon and steelhead continue to decline – thirteen of eighteen species are now federally list as endangered or threatened. Unproductive conflict between sports and commercial fishing interests over a dwindling resource has not solved the problem – it has only made it worse. In a controversy this big, only a political compromise is feasible. It’s time to move forward with a modern approach to fish management. We can’t afford to wait any longer – if we don’t take action now, we will see more fish and Northwest jobs disappear.

Where will the additional hatchery fish come from to increase fish releases in SAFE areas?

We anticipate that ODFW and WDFW will make these decisions based upon a river-by-river analysis that maximizes the conservation benefit of reducing conflict between hatchery and native fish, as well as retains sport fishing opportunities in Columbia tributaries.

Who are SAFE for Salmon supporters?

Our growing coalition includes:
 Association of Northwest Steelheaders
 Northwest Guides and Anglers Association
 Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association
 Oregon Council of Trout Unlimited
 Oregon Wild
 Puget Sound Anglers

Will SAFE for Salmon affect commercial and charter ocean fishing?

Absolutely. Salmon will survive the trek to sea from SAFE areas at higher rates than upriver production, benefiting commercial and sport zones off the coast.

How can I get involved?

Several ways: Sign up with the SAFE for Salmon campaign to stay informed or pledge to volunteer; donate any amount you feel you can afford; if you live in Oregon, call your legislators and let them know you support this proposal.