A new group of sportfishing enthusiasts hopes to jump into the fight to preserve the 2006 salmon season, while setting up fun derbies and contests.
The effort has prompted discussion about whether a brand new group will dilute or strengthen the message of existing environmental, Native American, sport and commercial fishing groups already pressing for change on the Klamath River.
The Klamath River originates in southern Oregon, flows across Northern California through Siskiyou and Humboldt counties, then out to sea in Del Norte County.
About 50 people came to the first meeting of a group organized by David Pellandini and Mike Williamson at Portuguese Hall in Fort Bragg last week.
“Several of us sport fishermen started talking. We feel we need to have a stronger voice in our community. It scares us we might not get any fishing this year,” Pellandini said.
Pellandini said the primary political purpose of the organization “is to have an influence in the establishment of fishing regulations; second, we certainly want to have a role in replenishing the salmon,” he said.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council is set to decide at its April 2-7 meeting in Sacramento the fate of salmon season (which is currently open but few of the migratory fish are present). The decision-making process for salmon fishing is expected to begin on April 4, when the council will choose a recommendation to make to the National Marine Fisheries Council, which could result in closure of recreational and sport fishing by May 1, just before fishing begins in earnest.
The problem is low returns of salmon to the Klamath River, while salmon populations are healthy to most California rivers, and fish are expected to be plentiful off the Mendocino Coast this year.
The new local group hasn”t decided on a name yet and plans to have a second meeting on Thursday, April 6, although the location has not been finalized. Twenty-seven people signed up for the new group at the first meeting, Pellandini said.
Among those at the first meeting of the new group was Jim Martin. He is West Coast Regional director of the Recreational Fishing Association, the state”s only registered lobby for recreational fishing, as well as a member of the Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission. The RFA has played a key role in organizing opposition to the suggested closure of salmon season because of the low returns of salmon to the Klamath River. Martin questioned the need for a new group.
“People are angry about the possible salmon closure, and I understand why people feel the need to get organized. Local RFA members who attended the meeting were vocal about our organization and they suggested that everyone join the RFA instead of forming another group. One of our problems is we keep trying to invent the wheel. I offered a free trial membership to everyone who joined the new group at the meeting,” Martin said.
While Pellandini, who owns a 25-foot boat called the “Pickled Herring,” supports Martin and the efforts of the RFA, he likes the idea of his group keeping money local.
Because the RFA is a multi-state group, Pellandini said, “If we raise $10,000 locally for the RFA, chances are $8,000 will go to [another part of the country”.” He said the new group would work with existing groups such as the Salmon Restoration Association, of which Martin is vice president, and can donate to groups such as the RFA.
The Recreational Fishing Association actually has chapters only in Oregon, Washington and Alaska, and two chapters in California.
“The RFA is the NRA of sportfishing. Local groups are important, yet I keep hearing people say we need to speak with one voice,” Martin said.
Pellandini thinks more rational voices are needed to supplement the good work of the RFA, especially at meetings where public officials are confronted by angry, shouting and sometimes irrational individuals.
Pellandini said a vote was taken at the end of the first local meeting, after Martin had asked the members to join the RFA instead of launching a brand new group, and 85 to 90 percent of the people gathered still voted to form a local group.
“We want to make a good fun organization, not strictly a political activist organization,” Pellandini said.
The group plans to give a plaque for the largest salmon and the largest ling cod caught by members. The group would auction off excursions on party boats and boats owned by members and might also hold barbecues to make money.
He said the new group intends to work with commercial fishermen and with local groups like the Salmon Restoration Association.
The SRA holds a barbecue in Noyo Harbor every Fourth of July weekend that supports the Hollow Creek Fish Hatchery, where nearly 100,000 eggs were taken this year. Salmon are now being reared at the hatchery. Those salmon will eventually travel into the ocean from the Eel River.
Pellandini said a primary mission of the local group would be to lobby elected representatives and use the voting power of local anglers to push politicians into supporting salmon restoration and better fishing regulations.
When asked which politicians would need to be pushed , Pellandini agreed that Congressman Mike Thompson and Assemblywoman Patty Berg have been strong supporters of salmon restoration, as well as commercial and recreational fishing economies. He said he had heard that was also true of State Sen. Wes Chesbro.
All three have made supporting salmon restoration efforts a stated priority.
Martin added, “We are very fortunate to have Congressman Mike Thompson representing our district. He must be rolling his eyes as he receives a lot of letters questioning his stand on the issue. The RFA knows what Mike has done on our behalf and we support his efforts.”
Pellandini said the new group wants to interact with the 11,000-member Coastside Fishing Club and tried to form a local chapter of that group, but found the group had no provision for that.
With a Website at www.coastsidefishingclub.com, the non-profit organization has been very active in organizing fishers in this year”s political fight. The Coastside Fishing Club is well known for its discussion board and classified ads related to fishing, along with weather forecasts and ocean temperatures.
Martin says the political battle must be won in Washington, D.C.
“The salmon closure, the problems on the Klamath River, and most saltwater fishing restrictions all are federal in nature. Without a strong voice in Washington, D.C., our local efforts will only go so far,” Martin said.
“We make political campaign contributions. We comment on legislation and regulatory changes. We fight to keep the fisheries sustainable. We work with commercial fishing organizations, but we represent recreational [non- commercial] fishing,” Martin said.
The RFA has an active Website bulletin board at www.fishpolitics.com.
Pellandini said a local attorney has volunteered his time to help the new group set up a non-profit. He said that while currently, the efforts are all about salmon season, there will be other issues in the future, such as bottom fish and ling cod regulations. He said ling cod regulations are written in an irrational way to encourage fishermen to keep pregnant females and throw back males.
Pellandini is well known in a field apart from fishing, as an innovator and businessman at Natural Ear Hearing Aid Labs in the Santa Rosa area. He said those interested in the new group should contact Mike Williamson at Redwood Liquors in Fort Bragg at 964-9334.
