Over the last nine years, the Pew Foundation has been doing their best to put us local ocean-going drag fishermen out of business. I know this for a fact because I have been doing drag fishing for 25 years, the last 11 years as skipper of several boats. I am currently the skipper of the 80-foot fishing vessel Iron Lady out of Warrenton.
Since 1999, there have been three separate area closures that have closed a full 75 percent of our traditional fishing grounds. Pew-sponsored extreme environmental groups have been involved with all three closures. The Pew Foundation is now involved in the recall of our Clatsop County Commissioners, and I’ll tell you how in just a bit.
"How on earth can an East Coast foundation put you guys out of business?" I’ve been asked. Very simple – with lots of money. The Pew Foundation has plenty of that, at least $7.4 billion, and it has funneled loads of money into three main extreme environmental groups that have been doing their best to put us out of business.