The gillnet in the photograph is that of an illegal
tribal netter. He fled the area the moment he saw me taking pictures
of him. I called the authorities (Game Warden, State Patrol, City
Police, and Head of the Tribal council) and told them where the offense
was taking place. The Tribal council leader was genuinely pleased
he had been notified. It was later discovered that the Native American
who owned the net was actually from a different tribe altogether.
With the serial numbers on the buoys of the net it was very easy to
track him to his house where game wardens made an arrest.
Keep unscrupulous Commercial and Tribal netters on their toes and
honest. Though there aren’t many offenders, huge portions of
poaching fish totals can reach into many thousands of illegally caught
salmon per offense, which is actually done by "some" Tribal
and Commercial rogue netters. In some cases, which I have personally
seen, these illegal netters will gut female fish and throw their dead
bodies back into the water in an effort to hide the carcasses. When
they catch male salmon, these same poachers will kill them and throw
them back into the water or simply toss them onto the beach. It is
a massive problem and a monumental waste of honest taxpayer’s
natural resources.
Check out their annual regulations and take note if you spot illegal
netting near you and report them immediately.
|
