| Subject: Good points |
Author:
Grossman
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Date Posted: 09/ 6/06 1:53pm
In reply to:
Town Blinker
's message, "Redux: "probably going to sell those fish"" on 09/ 5/06 8:05pm
Excellent post, Town Blinker.
I am especially interested in the supposed gillnetter who took pc out on the river and supposedly dumped the short sturgeon right back into the river as he was bringing in his net. Yeah, right. I think pc talked to the fisherman again and found out he was talking out of his ass and the fisherman didn't want his name used.
I am frustrated at the Fish and Wildlife Department. I am frustrated with a law that allows them to board without probable cause and w/o saying what they are looking for, especially in a dangerous work place like a slippery deck when fish are being ahuled in.
I am frustrated with agents who don't know what to look for and who pretend there is a market for something when there isn't. There wouldn't even be anyone to sell that many fish to. I know some people think fishermen keep illegal fish for themselves but that many is ridiculous. To think that a fisherman is going to throw fish right back in the river only for them to be caught right back up in the net is stupidity. A fish and wildlife agent should know this when we are talking about a livlihood and community's economy here. We need congress people on both sides of the river to step up to the plate and note what is happening to jeopardize it.
We have agents that interpret laws in a way which illegally infringes on our 4th amendment rights. We have agents who have no idea how fishermen operate who are free to loosely interpret laws in a manner which best protects their own jobs as river police with an expensive price tag, equipment and wages to match.
This is inconsistent with providing for a safe community as well as a stable economy. The safety of the community has not been ensured by these random boat searches. Not once have the searches found anything that have threatened the community. Any and all violations that these searches have found have been at the INTERPRETATION of the law by the agent. It is ALWAYS cheaper for the fisherman to pay the fine then to get a lawyer and fight the ticket, which is what the agent is banking on. This ensures his job is secure. However, his job is NOT NEEDED. Taxpayers NEED to realize that if they want to save money river police via the fish and wildlife department are not needed and funding for them should be slashed completely.
The Coast Guard does the real job. They keep the "pirates" from operating and do the searches for drugs. They are even Fish and Wildlife's back up when enough agents cannot be rounded up for a raid or one of their boats are down.
ALL of fish and wildlife's work can be done from shore. They certainly obtain warrants for the vessels that they can prove to a judge need to be searched and they can watch the boats offload at the canneries/buyers/processors. Taxpayers are paying unneedfully for overtime, equipment, and supposed expert training that isn't really forthcoming and certainly isn't pertinent to the fishermen on the Columbia River.
I urge people to follow native's advice and contact the Pacific county prosecutor, DA Burke (360) 875-9361 or (360) 642-9361 email: dburke@co.pacific.wa.us and see how many fishermen have been cited "violations" what kind of violations and if these violations came after they reported an agent for abuse of office. Contact DA Marquis, (503) 325-8581 Email: jmarquis@co.clatsop.or.us for cases of Oregon fish and wildlife agent abuse issues, although they don't seem as prevelant. I think this is because the agents are more reluctant to lie to the judges on this side of the river.
One interesting case: Two fishermen, under the age of 18, were about to have their case dismissed (thier corks were'nt red enough) when the ODFW agent came into the hearing and told the ADA that he had been informed by the WDFW that the two had been arrested on similar violations and were awaiting sentencing in Washington. The boys protested their innocence and their attorney asked for their supposed file to be faxed to the court. The agent said it was part of an ongoing investigation and could not yet be released. So, suddenly this was no longer a first and only violation but they were ongoing problem juvenile delinquents (in the agent's words) so they were fined and given a year's probation! This was over 18 months ago, now, and still nothing ever materialized from the supposed ongoing investigation of the Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife. However, the boys' father had made a report against the WDFW's agents' abuse of power. Message delivered swift and sure: you report any of us and we will get you no matter what side of the river your on!
Some fishermen were shaking their heads, muttering "foking idiots" and thinking they deserve what they get when they "rock the boat." However, now that the WDFW and ODFW are randomly coming down on more and more fishermen what should be learned is that those that don't stick together to stop abuse of power will one by one be picked off. They've got to stop picking one fisherman to be thrown to the dogs for the season and stick together to make lasting change or sooner or later it is going to be their turn, or the only ones left in the fleet will be the ones owned by the canneries/rich guys. No more small independent owners.
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