I think it is a tad premature to post these options, they are simply for consideration and discussion at the Technical Working Group Feb 25th. In other words, just concepts to discuss. No decisions made. The TWG hasn't met and made any recommendations, so would caution against reading anything into the document as its just intended to spark discussion. Having some notional options to discuss is a good way to engage the discussion.
Did I miss something or is there no options for the bluffs?Exactly what I submitted to DFO in my submission as a fair , reasonable, common sense, workable alternative to a total closure when no whales are present, and also creating a "No Go" Zone for thousands of vessels that would require daily enforcement and patrol, which they did not do last year. Of course that would mean that they made an error last year and we all know that their decisions are always science based, and never wrong...
Here is a recent piece from the NOAA. Finds there are sufficient Chinook for both fisheries and SRKW.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feat...y_4BJwA4F9e6RPPFuhmgtMOCR_aSQ5Hnsngk37bLvn-BY
Makes it sound like Alaska catches no Canadian fish? Obviously this spin is designed for American fishers, but it needs to be called out IMO for dismissing the American harvest of Canadian fish.Limits in Canada and Alaska
We must also look beyond our own coast. Fishermen in Canada often catch more Puget Sound salmon than local fishermen do. Alaskan salmon fisheries catch very few fish from Puget Sound. However, they often catch many fish from the Columbia River before they turn south to areas where they would be available to the whales.
New provisions of the Pacific Salmon Treaty were renegotiated in 2019 between the United States and Canada. They have cut back catches of Chinook salmon throughout their migration from the Northwest to Alaska, which are expected to increase prey available to the whales. The new agreement also invests millions of dollars in additional Chinook hatchery production and habitat restoration to support salmon and Southern Resident recovery.
Just as importantly, fishing remains sustainable, which is the bottom line in setting salmon seasons for Council fisheries. You can feel confident that local salmon you find in stores and restaurants are sustainably caught. Better yet, you have a say in setting the seasons. Next, we will explain how.
I think there might have been a 7% or so reduction in SEAK's Chinook catch.
Killer whale advocates ask judge to halt Alaska’s king salmon season
https://www.kcaw.org/2020/04/21/killer-whale-advocates-ask-judge-to-halt-alaskas-king-salmon-season/