As you may recall, earlier this year Thurston County Superior Court Judge Thomas McPhee ruled against the commercial crabbing industry's request for a Preliminary Injunction to block implementation of WDFW's Puget Sound Dungeness Crab Policy and associated rules. On October 7, 2011 Judge McPhee heard oral arguments in the commercial crabbing industry's underlying lawsuit challenging the policy change. CCA is pleased to report that in an order filed on Friday, October 14, 2011 the Court dismissed the caseand ruled that the commercial fishing industry failed to show that WDFW violated the law in adopting a policy change giving recreational crabbers increased fishing opportunity and crab harvest while potentially reducing commercial harvest levels.
The commercial fishing industry's lawsuit was largely based on claims that the new policy violated part of the legislative mandate of the Department and Commission (RCW 77.04.012
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012>). Among several other things, the RCW states "...the department shall seek to maintain the economic well-being and stability of the fishing industry in the state." The commercial fishing interests challenged the Department’s interpretation that this mandate includes both commercial and recreational harvesting activity as well as industries or businesses impacted by recreational activity. The Court agreed with the Department’s interpretation and dismissed the claim.
It is unclear if the commercial industry will appeal the Court’s decision. We are pleased that the decision validates WDFW's Puget Sound Crab Policy, including the Commission's analysis that the policy change would actually benefit the fishing industry and economy of the state by increasing recreational crabbing opportunity.
CCA joined WDFW staff on a legislative tour of the Issaquah and Soos Creek Salmon Hatcheries earlier this month. The purpose of the tour was intended to provide legislators and legislative staff with the opportunity to get up close and personal with salmon and to help them better understand WDFW's hatchery programs. These tours come at a pivotal time when budgetary pressures are forcing a reduction in production at some hatcheries and the actual closure of others. "It is important that we educate our lawmakers on the importance of hatcheries along with the role both they and recreational fisherman play in contributing to our State's economy", stated CCA Lobbyist Scott Sigmon. According to a 2006 study, Washington recreational anglers spend nearly $1 billion annually on fishing equipment and related trips . .
During the tour, WDFW Hatchery Managers emphasized the importance of protecting our wild salmon stocks. Lee Blankenship with the Hatchery Science Review Group was also on hand to stress the fact that hatchery management in Washington needs to support and supplement our wild salmon runs. "The science tells us that we cannot simply pump out more and more hatchery fish," said Blankenship. "Managing these hatcheries properly is critical to wild salmon recovery and maintaining harvest opportunity."
The Issaquah Hatchery is one of the Department's crown jewel facilities. Over 180,000 people toured the Issaquah Hatchery during the Issaquah Salmon Days in early October. According to Heather Bartlett, Statewide Hatchery Manager for WDFW, the Issaquah Hatchery is the exception rather than the rule. "Many of our hatcheries are 50 and 60 years old, facilities like Soos Creek are in desperate need of updating and repairs." Both CCA and PSA have been working with Fish & Wildlife to help secure funding in the State Capitol Budget for hatchery improvements.
On hand for the tour was House Agriculture and Natural Resources Chair, Brian Blake and State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon (prime sponsor of HB 1717 "Derelict Gear" reporting). Also in attendance were a number of caucus and committee staff as well as legislative assistants. Carl Burke, lobbyist for the Northwest Sports fishing Industry Association and Puget Sound Anglers was also on the tour .
CCA appreciates the opportunity to partner with the Department on these and other important issues before the legislature.
Washington is currently accepting proposals for a new hunting and fishing licensing system. Potential license system vendors are interested in what Washington hunters and anglers think about their hunting and fishing license experience. This includes acquiring the correct license, the physical license document(s), and becoming informed of the rules and regulations regarding the license.
The intent of the survey is not to gather opinions about the rules and regulations set by the Washington legislature and Fish and Wildlife Commission, but instead to gather opinions about the licensing process itself.
Complete the survey by November 1, and enter your email at the end to be entered in a drawing to win a Fetha Styx CCA Predator Series Salmon and Steelhead rod.
Carcass analogs are fish food pellets which are made from marine derived nutrients. They are designed to provide an alternate means for returning much needed fish carcass nutrients into our watersheds.
Analogs are designed to break down over a period of time (days to weeks) providing a directly consumable food source for juvenile salmon and aquatic invertebrates. They are easily transportable, can be held in dry storage, and are generally easy to distribute into salmon spawning streams. Analogs are also pathogen free and can be distributed into any watershed without concern about transferring fish diseases.
The Lower Columbia Salmon Enhancement Group was recently awarded a $30,000 grant to place analogs into a 12-mile stretch of river. Below is a video of their project from a news clip, showing analogs and how they are distributed. Click the link below to view the video.
The CCA Washington Government Relations Committee (GRC) would like us all to be aware of the lack of scientific foundation and monitoring underlying many of the Columbia River mamagement decisions.
The non-indian commercial summer-fall fishery coincides directly with an enormous run of steelhead, a non-commercial fish. This fishery is conducted without any credible scientific based on-board monitoring to assess steelhead impacts.
CCA’s "public document request" in 2011 seeking records related to direct and indirect fish mortalities produced several documents, but only one of those studies demonstrated a comprehensive effort to quantify steelhead mortality and handle over a wide area of the Columbia. That study was conducted in 1986.
The 1986 study contains serious shortcomings. First, there was no long-term mortality study to determine what percentage of the handled steelhead survived to spawn, despite a shockingly high immediate mortality of 17%. Also, it relies on an even older 1970 study for many of it’s conclusions.
No other monitoring studies have been conducted in late summer, none provide a scientific approach, and none describe how assumptions were derived from the data.
To read further GRC discussion about this, click here.
Note: Steelhead counts at Bonneville dam in the past decade have increased. In 2009 and 2010 the counts are substancially larger than those in 1986. Thus, steelhead mortalities from gillnetting can be affecting a substancially larger raw number of steelhead, thereby negatively impacting the further recovery of steelhead as well as sportfishing seasons and opportunity.
With the assistance of many CCA members, Ed Fedder (Sea Tac Chapter) has produced an excellent 14-minute video that emphasizes selective fishing, and the video is now online. Thanks to Ed and everyone who helped with this time-consuming project
A series of "fish flings" in the Cowlitz River basin has begun. Volunteers from various groups including CCA and PSA are involved in this nutrient enhancement project. The plan is to meet around 8 AM at the Cowlitz River Salmon Hatchery (Barrier dam) on most Wednesdays and Fridays, depending upon the number of fish entering the hatchery trap.
Rubber boots, rubber gloves, and raingear are suggested; as you know, the fish are slimy.
The project may run every week through November, and many, many volunteers are needed. Please show your support by helping. You’ll be proud to know that you are doing something that makes a real difference.
For detailed information, contact the coordinator, CCA’s Dale Scott, at:
Thanks to hard work and persistence by various local Grays Harbor CCA members, the CCA Twin Harbors chapter was recently featured in their local paper, The Daily World.
Click here to read the newspsper’s interview with chapter member Francis Estalilla, MD.
The work of CCA is dependent upon volunteers. Please volunter to help. No experience is needed. To volunteer in any way, a little or a lot, go to our website here.
Thank you!
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