Thanks to Gary Jones for the photos. Several readers asked today about the presence of multiple boats fishing with nets off Alki Point.
They’re purse seiners that show up about this time many years (here’s one of our past reports), fishing for chum salmon.
If you’re interested in the rules, maps, etc., here’s the 56-page document (which we also linked when purse seiners showed up briefly two months ago).
The gill netters and been out the past week or so. Usually 7 or 8 bow pickers seen off Duwamish Head. Today, we saw the purse seiners you have pictured.
They aren’t salmon fisherman they are rapers. Small eco system..ridiculous and unbelievable this is allowed and for what?Sad
Please Linda?
These are not “rapers.”
That is highly offensive, ignorant, factually and morally wrong.
The dog (chum) fishery is robust and well managed.
These are excess fish, not needed or desired for optimal spawning and regeneration.
I’m assuming the well managed fisheries track the life spans of the chum when they come through every year so that they leave the orcas food for them and other wildlife. Not to mention the salmons ecological benefits from decomposition that contributes to the delicate Puget Sound ecosystem. Is this the right place to be out?
I talked to the Fish and Wildlife observer on the shore who was there making sure the boats stuck to the schedule. He suggested each boat has a Fish and Wildlife representative on board ensuring the catch is within limits and other species are returned.
I was hoping this was in place. Thank you for watching out neighbor. A little piece of mind. However, I still don’t agree with the location.
Gill nets kill all fish who get stuck in them including endangered Chinook salmon. There is no releasing bycatch from gill nets.
I agree 100%. It’s usually making up crap who really don’t have any idea what they are flapping their gums about. They are are dead once they get caught in these nets!!! Sad but true!
Yeah but the chinook salmon run is over they are all in the rivers and coho as well. The chinook salmon are out in the bays in June-Beginning August then coho September- October then chum end of october beginning November through December.
Wrong! She is right. There are several chum runs that were once robust and large but now are barely receive enough fish for escapement. Just so they can fill a niche for roe for the sushi market over seas. The fish itself is not even utilized for food,often discarded overboard.
If everyone cared so much about the life of the salmon the easy fix is to quit putting them on the BBQ.
The salmon in question are chums.
They do not generally end up on the barbecue, nor are they the chosen salmon (reds/sockeyes) that the resident orcas rely on.
They are a chosen salmon of Southern Residents here and now. Chum in their great numbers, along with whatever beloved chinook/blackmouth they can find is what brings them here in November and December. For reference, please seeEndangered predators and endangered prey: Seasonal diet of Southern Resident killer whaleshttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0247031
Taken from the results section”Chinook salmon was the most common prey species when averaged across all
fecal samples in each of two areas were most samples were collected
(51.0%, 67.3%), Puget Sound and outer coast waters, respectively (S1 Table).
Chum salmon was the next most common species consumed in two areas of
the three areas (Puget Sound, 31.2%, JdF/SJI 31.5%) but virtually
non-existent in outer coast waters (1.2%) (S1 Table).”
Actually the most value from chums/dogs/keta/silverbrites is the roe.
I find it hilarious that people express moral outrage over this well regulated fishery.Idiots that don’t know diddly squat are indignant about something that is or has been a way of life since day one in this state.Come to Washington and tell people that are 4th generation Washingtonians that they can’t have traditions native and non native fisher families.I think the term is NIMBY.
I remember $10 enhancement that was supposed to make the puget sound black mouth fishing even better. Black mouth fishing, which it was awesome. Open pretty much all year roundLess than 2 years later, they had closers on the. Puget, sound.Of course, they had to try it on the columbia river system
Linda – you’ve seen then forcibly sexually assaulting fish?! Is that even legal?! Have you notified the authorities?!
I’m sorry for either your misinformation, or ignorance in something you obviously don’t know anything about. With the net these days you should do your homework prior to commenting. Good luck on all accounts.
You can say the same thing about recreational fishermen. And I have! Where do you think salmon in the marketplace comes from? It’s a highly regulated industry following strict rules on ESA take, bycatch, state/tribal allocations, and much more. Work in the industry for a few years and then comment.
I agree with Linda. Overfishing is not a thing of the past. The industry is based on profit – not ethics and not ecosystems. We should not be starving other species for our own greed.
These are not overfished here. This is seemingly one of the most highly regulated fisheries in Washington.
Thank you, making people aware of something that’s been going on for decades. I am an old man, I’m 67 years old. Typically, this is the norm for this time of year. unintentionally catch which meant whatever got in there, net .set didn’t have to be thrown back., even though very much alive.. Fishings for the chums was just the excuse to fish on ithe unintentional, catc
I believe these boats catch chum salmon, which are used for things other than what we eat on the table. The purse seiner boats used to catch in Puget Sound are owned primarily by the Indians and the Bolt decision allows them that right.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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