In this episode of the Badger Fishing Show, Phillip Olson & Alex Van Hin sit down with Nello Picinich, Executive Director of Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Washington, for an in-depth discussion about one of the most controversial fishing issues in the Pacific Northwest: non-tribal commercial gillnetting.

Nello explains how gillnets work, why they are considered non-selective, and what the latest observer data reveals about bycatch and mortality of wild salmon and steelhead. The conversation also explores the history of CCA, the organization’s efforts to reduce non-tribal gillnetting, and the $14.5 million Washington State gillnet buyback program.

Topics covered include:
- How gillnets operate and why they remain controversial
- Release mortality and bycatch impacts on ESA-listed fish
- Observer data and the lack of recent monitoring
- Hatchery fish, selective fisheries, and terminal areas
- The economics of commercial harvest versus recreational fishing
- The Columbia River reforms and Washington's gillnet buyback program
- Why this issue continues to divide anglers, advocates, and policymakers

Whether you're a recreational angler, conservation advocate, or simply interested in how fisheries are managed, this episode offers a detailed look at the science, politics, and economics behind one of the most debated harvest methods still used in Washington State.

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