I second the notion that as long as it's a legal practice, they have the right to do it.
Personally, I have been wrestling with this subject for a while now. I have friends who once were a netting family, though they don't do it currently.
After many long discussions with them I believe a lot of pertinent information is not part of the overall debate.
In many ways the Columbia river gill netters are large part of why we even have a Chinook run at all. They as a group were the first to establish a hatch box program to re introduce fish in to the system during the early 90's during the lean years when the Columbia was closed to salmon retention.
As well they attempted to set up rearing pens in Youngs Bay only to have them vandalized allowing the fish to escape. Even today there is still a return of chinook to youngs bay as a legacy of their efforts.
I'm not trying to champion the gill netters cause rather just bring some info to the debate. Not all "netters" are evil nor should "we" revel in the misfortunes of others trying to make a living in tough economic times.
Just another thought to chew on...
Gill netters are commercial fishermen, aren't guides and charter fishermen also "commercial" fisherman? They make their money on harvesting the resource as well. I have seen techniques used in the pursuit of limiting out on clipped fish, that leave many non clipped fish terribly damaged before they are pitched back into the ocean.
No one is perfect in this situation and IMHO the only really way to impact gill netting would be to get all your friends, family, & relations who don't fish to stop buying salmon dinners and fish from the stores. As long as a demand exists there is going to be a market for it.
ray::think:
