Huffman Announces Historic Anti-Poaching Agreement Between Tribes, Federal and State Agencies

October 10, 2013

WASHINGTON­—Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced a historic accord on a shared responsibility and common strategy to combat poaching of critically low populations of steelhead and coho salmon on the Garcia River in northern California.

Huffman joined Nelson Pinola, chair of the Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomo Indians, to convene multiple meetings over the past four months involving representatives from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, North Coast Water Quality Control Board, as well as conservation groups to address the poaching problems on the river.

The Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomos drafted a resolution to work with agencies and abide by state and federal fishing regulations. Under the resolution, tribal members will not fish for endangered and listed fish such as coho salmon and steelhead, but instead will accept fish from other sources for ceremonial and other tribal purposes. In addition, fishing IDs will be issued to all members of the tribe for identification purposes. New fishing information signs are being created to hang throughout the Garcia Watershed, and plans for multi-agency and tribal monitoring are being formulated.

“I’m glad the Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomo and all government agencies were able to come together to create a unique cooperative framework to prevent poaching on the Garcia River. This is not only critical for fragile salmonid populations on the river, it could serve as a guide for partnerships across the country,” Congressman Huffman said. “After more than two decades of hard restoration work, the Garcia River is in recovery. But fishery populations are still critically low and we must ensure that these endangered fish are protected, all while respecting the tribe’s right to fish in their waters.”

“We started working on these issues when a newspaper story ran with incorrect information,” said Nelson Pinola, chair of the MPA Band of Pomos. “Native Americans don’t live in a black and white world when it comes to the law. For us it’s a gray mix out there of federal laws, state regulations and local ordinances. Independence is infringed by who has jurisdiction over what. This has been a productive interaction with the agencies. The BIA is interested in our outcome as this cooperation is unique in Indian Country.”

“Our iconic salmon are imperative to California’s economic, recreational and environmental welfare,” said Brian Stranko, Director of the North & Central Coast Region, The Nature Conservancy.  “In California, we are experiencing the steepest decline in salmon populations in the West and the time to prevent extinction is now.  Luckily there is the needed collaboration and support to prevent this tragic outcome.  The Nature Conservancy commends Congressman Jared Huffman and the Manchester Pomo tribe for coming together to stop illegal poaching of salmon.”

Over the last 15 years more than $25 million has been invested in conservation and mitigation efforts for the Garcia River Watershed. As more fish return to the Garcia to spawn, reports and one major citation of poaching fueled the need to address this issue. The inter-agency meetings and tribal resolution were unprecedented according to participants. 

The multi-agency cooperation will continue as the first salmon and steelhead begin to enter the west coast rivers in the next few weeks. A formal announcement will be made on October 19 at the Manchester-Point Arena (MPA) Rancheria in Point Arena. In addition to Congressman Huffman and the MPA Band of Pomos, NMFS and Fish and Wildlife agency representatives and The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Fund, and Trout Unlimited will participate in the announcement. 

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