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Whatcom Watch
Being Frank
May 2022
Marine Mammal Predation Is Out of Control
by Ed Johnstone Our tribal fishermen are being out-fished by marine mammals. When I was growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, it was rare to see a sea lion at the mouth of the Quinault or Hoh rivers. But … Continue reading
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April 2022
The Measuring Stick of Our Survival
by Ed Johnstone My mentor Billy Frank Jr. always said salmon are the measuring stick of our survival. He was referring to all of us. Salmon are the keystone that supports dozens of other species of fish and wildlife. Their … Continue reading
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February 2022
Salmon Recovery Will Take More Than Money
by Ed Johnstone There’s no doubt about it. The Biden administration is working hard to pay the price for salmon recovery. The $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill is just an example. We have never seen so much political will and … Continue reading
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September 2017
Sport Crabbing Needs In-season Management
by Lorraine Loomis The same principles we use to manage many of our salmon fisheries should be used t0 regulate recreational harvest of Dungeness crab in Puget Sound. During most chinook salmon fisheries, we develop in-season estimates using catch data … Continue reading
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December 2021
Stopping Tire Debris From Killing Coho Salmon
by Willie Frank III and David Troutt Now that we know a chemical in our car tires is killing salmon, we have to act urgently to keep it out of the water. Research published last year confirmed that the preservative … Continue reading
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December 2021
Hatchery Fish Are Treaty Fish
by Lisa Wilson Tribal treaty rights are being attacked by so-called conservation groups that threaten legal action against our hatcheries. Hatchery production is an essential part of salmon recovery. Along with harvest, habitat and hydropower, it is one of the … Continue reading
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Oct/Nov 2021
We Have No Time to Slow Down Our Recovery
by Shawn Yanity Editor’s Note: Whatcom Watch first starting printing “Being Frank” — written by Billy Frank Jr. — with the April 2004 issue and continued running his column until May 2009, when The Bellingham Herald starting printing it. We … Continue reading
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September 2021
Lummi Nation Mourns the Late Lorraine Loomis
The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Chair leaves behind a legacy of salmon and treaty protection Lummi Nation joins the Swinomish Tribe in honoring the late Lorraine Loomis, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Chair, a treaty rights protector and salmon defender. The … Continue reading
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September 2021
NWIFC Chairperson Lorraine Loomis Walks On
Lorraine Loomis, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission chairperson and Swinomish fisheries manager, passed away August 10 at the age of 81. Loomis became fisheries manager for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community after the 1974 Boldt decision that reaffirmed tribes’ treaty-protected fishing … Continue reading
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September 2021
Before We Achieve “Net Ecological Gain,” We Need to Define It
by Lorraine Loomis When we talk about how to recover salmon — the math should be simple. The protection of existing habitat plus restoration of degraded habitat should equal a net gain in ecosystem function, leading to more fish. Yet … Continue reading
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