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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2019)
A4 THE ASTORIAN • TuESdAy, OcTObER 15, 2019 OPINION editor@dailyastorian.com KARI BORGEN Publisher Founded in 1873 DERRICK DePLEDGE Editor JEREMY FELDMAN circulation Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN Production Manager CARL EARL Systems Manager GUEST COLUMN Crabbers face new rules to protect whales O regon’s commercial crab- bing industry prides itself on sustainability. Though Dungeness crab has been har- vested commercially since the late 1800s, this population is considered to be sta- ble to increasing along the West Coast — thanks to commercial and recreational regulations that protect the breeding pop- ulation and ensure the state’s official crus- tacean will be conserved for future generations. Now, the fishing industry is facing a new environmental challenge — whale entanglements in crabbing gear. Before 2014, such CAREN entanglements were rare, BRABY numbering about 10 annually off the entire West Coast. Since then, entanglements have become more common, peaking at 55 in 2015 and numbering 46 off the West Coast last year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Forensics of each entanglement tell us that about half of them can be attributed to fishing gear, a third to Dungeness crab gear. Most of the crabbing gear entangle- ments are attributed to California fisher- ies, but Oregon gear has been confirmed in several entanglements over the past few years. Whales can be disentangled in some cases, and fishermen and other ocean users know to immediately report inci- dents to a hotline or hail the U.S. Coast Guard to initiate a response from NOAA’s disentanglement team. What’s behind the increase since 2014 and how can we prevent entanglements from happening in the first place? Changes in ocean conditions, includ- ing climate change and effects from “the blob” (a marine heatwave in the Pacific Ocean), are likely factors in the increase as they are changing where and when whales migrate and feed off the Oregon Coast. Both questions are ones the industry itself is committed to answering. First, the commercial crabbing indus- try via the Oregon Dungeness Crab Com- mission is helping fund aerial surveys of whales off the Oregon Coast. This proj- ect is a partnership between the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ore- gon Sea Grant and Oregon State Universi- ty’s Marine Mammal Institute, relying on Coast Guard collaboration, to gather infor- mation about where and when whales are in Oregon waters and their activities when they are here. In combination with our knowl- edge of where and when fishing occurs, Mark Farley/Oregon State University Leigh Torres, with Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute, on board a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter for an aerial survey of whales off the Oregon Coast. PUBLIC MEETINGS The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will hold public meetings to hear feedback from the commercial fleet on regulations to prevent whale entanglements. · Coos Bay/Thursday, North Bend Library, 1-4 p.m. · Brookings/Friday, Harbor Water District Building, 9 a.m.-noon · Astoria/Oct. 22, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 1-4 p.m. · Newport/Oct. 23, Shilo Inn, 1-4 p.m. these resulting whale maps will help us assess the seasons and areas of great- est risk of interactions that lead to whale entanglement. Industry members have also been part of the Oregon Sea Grant-led Ore- gon Whale Entanglement Working Group since its inception in 2017. The working group has been critical in raising aware- ness and understanding of the problem and potential solutions. It has promoted the “best prac- tices directive,” which describes fish- ing gear configurations and practices that are thought to decrease the risk of whale entanglements — such as minimizing sur- face gear, maintaining taut vertical lines that are less likely to entangle marine life and talking to each other on the water so everyone knows when and where there is whale activity and voluntarily avoids those areas. The industry is also active in derelict gear removal, both in-season and post- season, an incentive program that further reduces the risk of entanglements. While these efforts have led to suc- cess, more problem-solving and effort are needed as entanglements are still hap- pening at an unacceptable level. Califor- nia’s high rate of entanglements recently prompted a lawsuit and settlement that closed California’s crabbing season sev- eral months early in 2019. In Oregon, the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Wildlife Com- mission are taking a phased approach to additional regulatory measures, and many of these efforts have widespread industry support from commercial crabbers. The first phase requires better identi- fication of crabbing gear to more read- ily track what type of gear whales are get- ting entangled in. Beginning this season, all commercial ocean and Columbia River crab permit holders must register their buoy color patterns with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Recreational crab- bers will also be required to mark their buoys. While these first-phase measures are critical for our understanding of entan- glements, they will not reduce the risk of entanglement. Phase two regulatory mea- sures may involve reducing the amount of vertical lines — such as from crab pots — in the water during certain times of year. We know there is an increase in entangle- ments reports along the West Coast start- ing in the spring, which coincides with when Endangered Species Act-listed humpbacks are most abundant off the Ore- gon Coast. Exact phase two measures won’t be decided by the commission until spring, but the Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting public meetings now to get input from the crab fleet. While designing these regulatory changes is expected to be difficult, the crab fishery has faced change before and retained its place as one of Oregon’s most sustainable fisheries. This new challenge requires true leadership and innovation, and the crab fleet is up to this challenge. caren braby is the marine resources program manager for the Oregon depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Impressed had an opportunity to talk with state Rep. Tiffiny Mitchell early on in the campaign. At that time, I was impressed with her understanding and loyalty to the working people of this district. Her own life experience informed the values which she articulated. That focus has not changed with her time in Salem. Tiffiny acted on promises to support working families in the district, invest in education and take real action to protect our environment. Rep. Mitchell went to the Legislature, studied issues and learned how our state pension structure is affecting current and future budgets. She addressed the impacts of climate change on the health of Oregon’s environment, and on our future jobs. It became clear to her that we cannot continue as we have in the past. She learned how complex the job of legislating and creating change really is. In acting on what she had learned, she angered certain industries and some of her supporters. Still, she acted on the values which caused her to run. She deserves our support for her active analy- sis and those hard choices she made. Some people are now collecting sig- natures advocating her recall, a solu- tion rarely used, and then only for crim- inal or blatantly unethical behaviors. If her adversaries simply disagree with her positions, running a candidate in the next election is the appropriate action. It wouldn’t cost the taxpayers extra expense, and waste our employee’s time and energy. Who is it, anyway, funding this recall effort with all the decals and signs? I’m wondering; are you? JAN MITCHELL Astoria I Disheartened I am disheartened by efforts to recall House District 32 Rep. Tiffiny Mitch- ell. Recalls are meant to be an instru- ment for removing an elected official for committing malfeasance. There is not even a whisper of evi- dence to suggest that Mitchell has done anything of the sort. Instead, members of the lobbying group, #TimberUnity, dis- agree with her vote in support of the con- troversial cap-and-trade bill (House Bill 2020) in the recent legislative session. I actually share some of their con- cerns about the potential for job loss, particularly in our rural, natural resourc- es-based economy. But recalling an elected official because you disagree with her voting record subverts our dem- ocratic system. I urge you not to sign the petition to get the recall on the ballot. If you want to “recall” Mitchell, you will have your chance in one year. It’s called the bal- lot box. JOAN HERMAN Astoria Now what? aybe you didn’t support the cap- and-invest climate bill that got defeated in the last legislative session. Now what? Are you going to be part of M the solution, or part of the problem? Instead of wasting time and taxpayer money on an election do-over, let’s decide on a plan to avoid climate change consequences. Many of our neighbors and elected leaders are already working on this. We already know our ocean is acidify- ing, and there is another dead-zone blob right off of our coast. Our fisheries and our economy depend on a healthy ocean. We need to work together and priori- tize solving climate change for the safety and health of our families. BEBE MICHEL Gearhart Puzzled ll U.S. citizens have a protected right to voice their opinions. What puzzles me is why the organized effort to recall Tiffiny Mitchell, our district’s state representative, is spreading so much misinformation and distortions about her record. When faced with tough decisions, she has consistently opted for the long-term good of her constituents, knowing it may not be popular with some. To those who will listen, she can explain the difficult A LETTERS WELCOME Letters should be exclusive to The Astorian. Letters should be fewer than 250 words and must include the writer’s name, address and phone number. You will be contacted to confirm authorship. All letters are subject to editing for space, grammar and factual accuracy. Only two letters per writer are allowed each month. Letters written in response to other letter writers should address the issue at hand and, rather than mention- ing the writer by name, should refer to the headline and date the letter was published. Discourse should be civil and people should be referred to in a respectful manner. Letters in poor taste will not be printed. Send via email to editor@dailyas- torian.com, online at dailyastorian. com/submit_letters, in person at 949 Exchange St. in Astoria or 1555 North Roosevelt in Seaside, or mail to Let- ters to the Editor, P.O. Box 210, Asto- ria, OR 97103. and complex process she goes through to arrive at the votes she casts. She is not an enemy of unions, but a strong supporter. We are very fortunate to have such an intelligent, hardworking representative who is so dedicated to public service. Please do not be fooled by the wide- spread misinformation. CAROLYN EADY Astoria Determination ep. Tiffiny Mitchell has been serv- ing the people in House District 32 with energy and determination. With her working family background, and her pas- sion for preserving the great Northwest, we know we can depend on her judg- ment in the Legislature. Why is this ridiculous recall petition being circulated? It is a misuse of the Oregon recall system, which was never intended to challenge elected officials simply because you disagree with them. Do your own research, and ignore that petition. That’s just big money trying to fool you. Portland’s Andrew Miller of Stimson Lumber spent more than $1 million on political contributions in a single year, just to avoid doing the right thing. In May, he laid off more than 60 For- est Grove workers in response to a tax increase to fund Oregon schools. His company grossed nearly $224 million in 2018. The total number of employees is now listed at 42. He and Julie Parrish, of West Linn, are ramming this campaign down our throats for one reason: Money. Lots of it. This is not a matter of left vs. right. This is powerful companies telling threatening lies to workers just to manip- ulate them into supporting an irresponsi- ble corporate agenda. That’s not politics, that’s deception. KEN POTTER Cannon Beach R
