State Cracking down on Fishing Violations on the Skok and other rivers
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:04 pm
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.
Home › Local › Most Recent Local News
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.