State Cracking down on Fishing Violations on the Skok and other rivers

[shawn]

I clipped this from my local paper and thought I would pass it on to ya'll.

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State Cracking Down on Fishing Violations on Skokomish River
By Christopher Dunagan (Contact)
Thursday, August 13, 2009


SKOKOMISH VALLEY —

As salmon return to Western Washington rivers, fisheries enforcement officers are joining forces to increase arrests on selected streams.

Last weekend, for example, as many as 10 officers converged on the Skokomish River in southern Hood Canal, according to Officer Dennis Flowers of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. As a result, 51 people were cited for various violations, including two commercial fishermen who now face felony charges.

Without the extra support, only two officers would be available for all of Mason County, Flowers said.

“This was the first emphasis this year,” he noted. “As an agency, we do these efforts statewide in different places throughout the year. We try to flood an area with officers.”

While some poachers seem to always take chances, the increased visibility of enforcement officers tends to keep many potential violators in line, Flowers said.

Enforcement officers try to remain unpredictable, so one or more groups of officers could be on any major river at any time, he said.

The effort on the Skokomish River from last Friday to Monday resulted in 10 violations for snagging fish, nine for failing to write down their catch, 12 for attempting to exceed the limit of one fish, 11 for fishing at night, one for having no catch-record card, two for using barbed hooks and one with no fishing license.

Two people were caught using a gillnet from a rowboat at the mouth of the Skokomish River, an area closed to commercial fishing, Flowers said. That is a felony violation, he said, and one man also was charged with resisting arrest when he tried to run away.

In addition to possible fines and jail time, the suspects could have any property used in the crime permanently confiscated by authorities. Seized in the felony arrest were a boat, a net, 368 pounds of fish and a vehicle.

Enforcement is designed to prevent overharvesting of hatchery fish and protection of wild salmon, especially those listed under the Endangered Species Act. In Hood Canal, listed salmon are the Puget Sound chinook and Hood Canal summer chum.

Anyone may report poaching anonymously by calling (877) 933-9847. For violations in progress, one should contact the nearest Washington State Patrol office.

For a discussion about water-related issues, check out the blog Watching Our Water Ways at kitsapsun.com.

[mav186]

GREAT NEWS.. I support this 100%!!

[flippinfool]

DAMN POACHERS I HATE EM!!!!!!!!!

[howardi211]

thats our tax dollars at work =)

[racfish]

After all these years ,ITS ABOUT TIME.

[wolverine]

The quilbillies that they cited probably already have a bunch of outstanding warrants. One more won't bother them a bit. Once the kings are done running in the Skok the snaggers will just move up to the Quillicine and snag silvers.

[Fish-or-man?]

This is great news! Thanks for sharing Shawn.

[notagator]

I was glad to see this in my inbox this morning also...

Despite recent showers, the summer’s prolonged dry weather has left fish vulnerable, including on the Dungeness River, where two anglers were recently caught poaching.

An enforcement officer with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) cited the anglers for multiple fishing violations, including possession of federally protected wild chinook salmon.

The Dungeness River, which flows through Clallam County to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is closed to all fishing to protect returning wild chinook, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

"These people may not know it, but the two fish they caught represent 10 percent of the wild chinook that have returned so far to the Dungeness, which has also suffered from low flows this summer," said WDFW Sergeant Phillip Henry. "Taking one of these fish is like shooting a bald eagle."

Henry said fines for the offenses could add up for the poachers. Fishing in closed waters carries a maximum penalty of $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail. The maximum penalty for snagging alone is $5,000 and/or a year in jail. Snagging is an attempt to take fish with a hook and line in such a way that the fish does not voluntarily take the bait in its mouth. In addition, the two may face federal charges for taking protected fish.