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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Rogue Valley doctor runs for governor on climate change platform ... Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... Rogue Valley doctor runs for governor on climate change platform ... Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... OTHER VIEWS Other Views: Rethink gillnet ban on the Columbia Comment By The Daily Astorian MailTribune.com By The Daily Astorian Posted Apr. 4, 2015 at 12:01 AM By The Daily Astorian Posted Apr. 4, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News It was unfortunate to see the Oregon Court of Appeals reject the lawsuit brought by Steve Fick and Jim Wells. Fick of Fishhawk Fisheries and Salmon for All President Wells contested rule making by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. This lawsuit was about former Gov. John Kitzhaber's surprising decision to eliminate gillnet fishing on the lower Columbia River. The outcome of Kitzhaber's directive — to move from gillnet fishing to a seine net fishery — is not the success story Kitzhaber said it would be. For Kitzhaber's successor, Gov. Kate Brown, the gillnet situation represents the opportunity to make a bad situation better. While we do not have the most recent numbers for seine net fishing, prior reporting indicated that mortality rates for released wild salmon are no better overall than for gillnetting. Far from being "walls of death," as rhetorically suggested by uneducated detractors, modern gillnets and recovery tanks permit great specificity in what sizes of fish are caught, while providing wild salmon a chance to regain strength before going back in the water. From our perspective, Kitzhaber's gillnet decision had a lot to do with the political potency of the urban sports fishing industry and little to do with fisheries science or conservation. One consequence of the former governor's decision is the economic devastation of some longtime gillnet families as well as decreased business to the businesses that receive their fish and those who sell equipment to gillnet boat owners. At the time of Kitzhaber's sudden directive, state Sen. Betsy Johnson criticized it as an exercise in "picking winners and losers in a tough economy." Kitzhaber rebuffed invitations from knowledgeable fisheries experts such as Steve Fick to engage in a dialogue about the outcome of his gillnet decision. Gov. Brown would advance the discussion by opening a door to that valid and insightful perspective. We look forward to seeing our new governor in Clatsop County. By The Daily Astorian MailTribune.com By The Daily Astorian Posted Apr. 4, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501