PHOTO COURTESY OF OSP
Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife troopers cited an Astoria man on several commercial fish-related charges after seizing 748 pounds of illegally caught Chinook salmon on the Columbia River near the Willamette River.
Troopers also seized an illegal 1,200 foot gillnet used to catch the fish.
On August 28, 2014, two OSP Fish & Wildlife troopers on nighttime boat patrol were conducting compliance checks on commercial gillnet fishermen on the Columbia River near the Willamette River. During the boat patrol the troopers were checking fishermen for proper licensing, gear and caught fish, and many commercial fishermen were found in compliance.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., the troopers checked a boat belonging to Duffy Duncan, 66, from Astoria. While checking to ensure he was gillnetting in compliance with rules and regulations, the troopers determined his net mesh size was illegal and he was in possession of 44 Chinook salmon caught in the unlawful net.
The troopers seized the 1,200 foot illegal net and all of the salmon that weighed 748 pounds. Duncan was issued citations for commercial fishing prohibited method (mesh size) and 44 counts of unlawful take/possession of commercially caught salmon.
The seized salmon was delivered to a wholesale fish dealer and sold at the going rate of $2 per pound. The proceeds will go to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.
