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Northwest Guide's and
Anglers Association
P.O. Box 1196
Tillamook, OR 97141-1196
Contact: Bob Rees (503) 812-9036 or
brees@pacifier.com or Chris Vertopoulos (503) 349-1377
chrisv@pacifier.com
The
Northwest Guide’s Association (NWGA) is seeking members to fulfill its
mission. NWGA’s mission is to protect, enhance, and promote
healthy sportfisheries and the ecosystems they depend on in the
Pacific Northwest.
In just the last 13 years, sport
anglers have witnessed the closure of 5 of the last 6 remaining wild
fish fisheries on the North Oregon Coast. Limited sturgeon
quotas, limited salmon allocations and additional regulations have
continued to erode away opportunity for us in the Northwest-
particularly on the Columbia River.
The
Northwest Guide’s Association was formed to address issues in the
Northwest, including the Columbia River that limit the capability of
fully prosecuted sportfisheries. Although our fish and fisheries are the
victim of a thousand cuts, we are slowly gaining ground as a
recognizable industry in the Northwest. NWGA seeks to advance this
recognition through work in these areas:
- Unfair fishery
allocations- Fisheries must be allowed to perform that best meets the
needs of our region’s economies. While sport and commercial fisheries
must co-exist together, it is important that the proper attention is
given to the user group that gives the greatest return on our
investment. We will work towards solutions that will allow all user
groups fair and tangible allocations to meet the needs of their
industry.
- Unfair and
unnecessary regulation- While recognizing the necessity for
restrictions that promote conservation, it is important that we aren’t
regulated out of our workplace. We support conservation measures that
are backed by credible science with fair public and professional
input. Unnecessary regulation cripples interest in our sport and
jeopardizes our industry.
- Environmental
factors that limit the production of wild fish- The operation of other
industry often affects water quality that limit fish production in our
streams and rivers. Excessive water temperatures, improper flow and
spill for outmigration and barriers to fish are just some of the
problems that wild fish face. Our policy of no net loss of fish
habitat applies to any industry that affects our industry and
we will adamantly oppose actions that limit wild fish production.
- Environmental
impacts that jeopardize our industry- Toxic contamination is becoming
a factor that is affecting our fisheries. Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO’s)
on the Willamette River, nuclear waste leakage from the Hanford site
on the Columbia River, dioxin discharges from paper mills and mercury
contaminations are just a few of the environmental factors that are
beginning to jeopardize our industry. We will work to find solutions
to these potential environmental disasters that currently affect our
salmonid and sturgeon fisheries to ensure a safe product for
sportanglers to consume.
- The
Pacific Northwest is still a
relatively untapped resource as a sportfishing destination. With the
sportfishing options available to us and the possibility of working
collaboratively as a group, we can make the Northwest a destination
location for sportanglers worldwide. With catch and release fisheries
a recent trend, the Northwest has some very under-marketed
opportunities available for tapping.
- Continue to
enhance the relationship between industry professionals and the
general fishing public. It is important that we are viewed as good
stewards of the resource and cordial participants in the sport. We
will always have to work towards a positive relationship with our
fellow anglers and engage them in our quest for better opportunities
for all of us. We can do this through contributions of finances or
volunteer labor in many different ways.
The Northwest Guide’s Association needs
your participation to meet its goals and objectives. Here are just a few
items on the radar for the 2005 fishing season:
Ø
Washington State will
likely propose a rule for the 2005 Buoy 10 season requiring barbless
hooks in this fishery. This is despite a detailed study by the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife indicating that barbed hooks kill no
more fish than barbless hooks in our selected fisheries. This is a real
threat!
Ø
The Astoria/Warrenton
county and city officials have entered into a lease agreement with a
private company that will create a natural gas plant in Warrenton. If
potential biological disaster isn’t enough threat, new Homeland Security
regulation stipulates that no vessels shall operate within a large
radius of the operation. Do you want to be restricted to fishing just
half of the river during the peak Buoy 10 season?
Ø
Unfair allocations were
once again realized between sport and commercial fishermen in the 2004
spring chinook fishery. Targeted allocations were as close as could be
expected but with last years over predictions, we could be facing
further restrictions that are not justified! Also, the fishery
departments of Oregon and Washington are proposing a raise in the
incidental steelhead quota for gillnetters. They are allowed to harvest
more steelhead and sportanglers aren’t allowed to harvest any?
We won this battle for you at the Commission
meeting in February although this fight is not over. We need your help
so we can keep fighting for our fish!
Ø
Promotion of the Columbia
River catch and release sturgeon fishery. We are already working with
the Chamber of Commerce on developing this untapped resource which will
mean more business for YOU!
Allow the Northwest Guide’s Association
to represent you in our state and federal forums so that our voices are
united and heard! Help us get this organization off the ground by
joining The Northwest Guide’s Association. You can help secure your
experiences on our NW waters by ensuring healthy and viable fisheries
for our future.
Your participation is critical for making
this organization work. General members will likely make up the bulk of
our membership so we look forward to working with such a group of folks
that can help get our mission accomplished!
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Fishing guides
usually choose to be a business member of the Northwest
Guide’s Association and receive all of the benefits
listed………………………………………………………………………………..……...please pay $150.00.
ð
I am a
restaurant, retail store, motel or hotel and we wish to be an
affiliated member of the Northwest Guide’s Association and join
in the fight for better sportfisheries. I realize that as an affiliated
member, I will get listed as such in membership literature so I am
recognized as a business that supports growth within the
industry…………………………………………………………………….………………...…….…please pay $75.00.
ð
I wish to be a
member of the Northwest Guide’s Association as I am a
benefactor of healthy sportfisheries. I want representation in decisions
that affect my experience in the Northwest………..please pay between $5.00
and $25.00.
Member contact:
______________________________________________________
Business name (if
applicable):____________________________________________
Number of employees:
__________________________________________________
Member address:
______________________________________________________
Member phone numbers:
______________________ _________________________
Member email:
___________________ web page: ___________________________
Please mail this application along with your dues to:
Northwest Guides Association
P.O Box 1196
Tillamook, OR. 97141-1196
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