Page 1  2  3

"Everyone has to be able to envision a future."

-Nat Bingham

Nat’s work encompassed commercial fishing, habitat restoration and protection, fisheries management, and coalition building. In the 1970’s, he was operating one of the first fish-rearing and habitat restoration programs on California’s north coast. Nat served for many years as California troll salmon advisor to the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC, the regional agency that recommends fishing seasons in ocean waters to the Secretary of Commerce), and served one term as a member of PFMC before his death. His efforts were principally responsible for passage of the federal legislation creating and funding the Winter-Run Salmon Captive Broodstock Program. Nat chaired both the Captive Broodstock Program and the Spring-Run Chinook Workgroup. These projects continue their work of rebuilding fish populations. Both function on a cooperative basis, bringing together a broad coalition of stakeholders that includes state and federal agencies, private landowners, fishermen, and environmental interests.

In 1983 the Director of the Department of Fish & Game (DFG) appointed Nat to the Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee (Salmon Stamp Committee). The committee recommends expenditures from the Commercial Salmon Stamp Account for salmon restoration work.

After serving on the ad hoc Klamath River Salmon Management Group, a committee of PFMC, Nat helped write the bill carried by Congressman Doug Bosco that created the Klamath Fisheries Management Council and the Klamath River Task Force in 1988. He represented California salmon trollers on both bodies. Concurrently he was president of PCFFA, California troll salmon advisor to PFMC, and chaired the Stamp Committee. In his spare time, he trolled for salmon. Nat never seemed to be in a hurry.

Page 1  2  3