Coastal coho salmon is already listed as a threatened species in the Pacific Northwest. Several other salmon and steelhead species have been listed as well. It has not been the best of times for Oregon fishermen or coastal economies. This early Chinook season can ease some of the pain without an environmental cost. If we overfish these stocks, we're out of business.
Fishermen go to great lengths to avoid impacting imperiled stocks of salmon.
First of all, the opening of the chinook season is timed so that other types of salmon aren't even around. Other measures taken later in the season greatly reduce the possibility of affecting stocks of concern. Those measures include the use of barbless hooks, the use of gear that doesn't attract coho in the first place, and going far enough offshore and deep enough underwater to avoid catching the wrong fish. Less than 1200 permits have been issued to commercial fishermen to harvest Oregon troll caught chinook. Stevens says only about 400 boats will actually be fishing for the chinook.